Keep Wimberley Beautiful Cedar

Austin weather stations are reporting record high readings of cedar pollen resulting in the allergic reaction known as “cedar fever.” The plant we call “Cedar” is actually Juniperus ashei.

Juniperus ashei is dioecious: the male and female reproductive organs appear on separate plants. Thus it is only the male cedar that produces pollen. At this time of year the male cedars are a brown-gold greenish color as they are releasing the pollen. The female cedars have mainly lost their dark blue berries, but they will appear later in the year after the pollen has fertilized their inconspicuous flower parts.

It may surprise you to know that Juniperus ashei is a native plant. Before the Europeans came to settle central Texas the regular natural fires kept the cedar population located primarily in the protected canyons and arroyos. Without the fires, the cedars can dominate the landscape. The best time to control cedar growth is when they first germinate as they are easy to pull up. If a mature cedar is cut it will not spring up from the roots as many hardwood trees do.

The durability of the cedar wood makes it suitable for fence posts. When the trees mature the shaggy bark is used exclusively by the endangered Golden-cheeked warblers for their nests. Many animals eat the juniper berries.

Several native plants live on the enriched soil formed by the decaying needle-like leaves beneath the cedar. The red flowered Cedar Sage (Salvia roemeriana), the American Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus) and Orange Zexmenia (Wedelia acapulcensis) favor the soil under the cedar trees. The Texas Madrone (Arbutus xalapensis) seeds seem to germinate best there as well.

The Juniperus ashei does play a role in our local ecosystem and the mature trees should be recognized for their contribution.

Written by Jackie Mattice, Hays County Master Naturalist