Pure stands of eastern redcedar are scattered throughout the primary  range of the species. Most of these stands are on abandoned farm lands or  drier upland sites. The forest cover type Eastern Redcedar (Society of  American Foresters Type 46) is widespread and therefore has many  associates (10).

    Variants of the type are eastern redcedar-pine, eastern  redcedar-hardwood, and eastern redcedar-pine-hardwood. The eastern  redcedar-pine variant is composed of eastern redcedar and either shortleaf  pine (Pinus echinata) or Virginia pine (P. virginiana) and  is found throughout the southern half of its range. The eastern  redcedar-hardwood variant is found throughout the central part of its  range and includes a mixture of red (Quercus rubra) and white (Q.  alba) oaks, hickories (Carya spp.), black walnut (Juglans  nigra), and other hardwoods. The third variant, eastern  redcedar-pine-hardwood, includes all of the above species associations  (15). Eastern redcedar appears as a minor component of several other  forest cover types.

    Eastern redcedar is among the first to invade abandoned fields and areas  cleared for pasture (25). On deeper soils, persimmon (Diospyros  virginiana) and sassafras (Sassafras albidum) are associated  invaders and may crowd it out. In cedar glades, the species is commonly  associated with blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), winged elm  (Ulmus alata), fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica), Carolina  buckthorn (Rhamnus caroliniana), rusty blackhaw (Viburnum  rufidulum), and Alabama supplejack (Berchemia scandens). Little  bluestem (Andropogon scoparius), big bluestem (A. gerardi),  yellow Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), switchgrass (Panicum  virgatum), dropseed (Sporobolus spp.), and numerous composites  and legumes are common herbaceous plants.