Asked on Sep 10, 2014

Weed or tree?

Jodi
by Jodi
So what are these? Hubby thinks they are not weeds. They look like a tree but we didn't plant any there. We cut out some box elder trees about 5 or 6 years ago and also a large maple. All I know is these sprang up in gravel.
Close up
Close up with buds on it. The weed/tree stays green even in our artic midwest temps!
About 9 foot tall and was just about 1 foot last year!
This is a new one. They grow in the gravel on the street side of the house. This one will probably be 9 foot by next year.
  13 answers
  • They are cedar trees! Seeds in general can last years in the ground but then are often spread by birds and other animals when they drop their droppings everywhere. Actually this looks like a native cedar or juniperus virginiana. They will grow anywhere and they are not the best looking cedar in the landscape because they are more for the woods (if that makes sense). they grow fast if they like a spot and are evergreen. they can easily be transplanted too
    • Jodi Jodi on Sep 10, 2014
      @The Garden Frog with C Renee Awesome! Not a weed so I'll keep them. I think the mature one is a nice looking tree. Very groomed shape. Maybe it will talk to the blue spruce out front of the house which seems to keep getting fatter and fatter but has only grown about 2 feet in 4 years! Thank you.
  • Linda Darling Linda Darling on Sep 10, 2014
    I agree they are cedar trees. Lots of them on the back edge of my property.
  • Carole Carole on Sep 10, 2014
    Lucky you! Maybe at Christmas you can string some solar fairy lights through it and dress it up a bit!
    • Jodi Jodi on Sep 10, 2014
      @Carole Temping as that might be we feed so many birds, rabbits, and squirrels that I am happy they will have more places to live in the winter. We do lots of lights but not in the trees outside.
  • Maryellen Maryellen on Oct 09, 2014
    They are cedar trees, but because of their "weedlike" properties, are also known as scrub pines. We have a lot of them on our property, too. Since you're treating this like a tree, I wanted to warn you that they develop big, dead, brown spots in their interior rather quickly if a lot of heavy snow sits on them!
    • Jodi Jodi on Oct 10, 2014
      @Maryellen I hadn't noticed that but will watch for it. We had so much snow last year it was creepy at times. Tree looks fabulous.
  • Becky Shell Becky Shell on Jan 02, 2015
    They are cedar trees as every one has said they were used in the south or at least where I am from as Christmas trees.They always added a nice fragrance to house not as pretty as some Christmas trees but remind me of Christmas past .
  • David Ogden David Ogden on Jan 05, 2015
    I don't think they are cedar It grows to fast to be a cedar tree
  • David Ogden David Ogden on Jan 05, 2015
    I think it might be a Leyland cypress they grow about 6 feet a year
  • Patti Cagle Patti Cagle on Jan 06, 2015
    Growing as fast as it did, it looks very much like a Leland Cypress. Watch out for a fungus which can kill them over time. The branches turn brown from the bottom up. We had three on the corner of our house, and had to have them taken out due to the fungus (I thnk that is what it was) Took out a lot of cypresses in this area. I loved mine! They were beautiful and quickly grew taller than our two-story house!
    • Jodi Jodi on Jan 07, 2015
      @Patti Cagle Next spring, I'll probably take a small cutting into a place nearby that sells trees .
  • Patti Cagle Patti Cagle on Jan 06, 2015
    Leyland
  • David Ogden David Ogden on Jan 06, 2015
    the buds are like pine cones they produce seeds its in the evergreen family
  • David Ogden David Ogden on Jan 07, 2015
    They usually stop growing at that height but still will grow very slow
  • Trish Trish on Mar 15, 2015
    I think it is a lelandi cypress it is a type of cedar we use it here on Vancouver island for hedges as the deer do not eat it. It can grow a foot and a half up and a foot and a half out every year so keep it trimmed. Left alone here they go to over 100 feet tall!!