The preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and nutrient-poor soil containing gravel, sand, clay, or rocky material. Eastern Red Cedar is more tolerant of alkaline soil than most conifers. Under favorable conditions, it can be a relatively long-lived tree (up to 300 years, or more), but some trees die out at a comparatively young age from insects, disease, storm-damage, or competition from other species of trees. Because Eastern Red Cedar is an alternate host of a fungal disease, cedar-apple rust, it may not be desirable to plant this tree near apples and crab apples.