Bermuda Cedar

Juniperus bermudiana is a species of juniper endemic to Bermuda. This species is most commonly known as Bermuda cedar, but is also referred to as Bermuda juniper. Historically, this tree formed woodland that covered much of Bermuda.

Settlers cleared part of the forest and the tree was used for many purposes including building construction and was especially prized for shipbuilding. Scale insects introduced during the Second World War construction of United States airbases in Bermuda devastated the forests, killing over 99% of the species. Since then, the salt tolerant Casuarina equisetifolia has been planted as a replacement species, and a small number of Bermuda cedars have been found to be resistant to the scale insects.

Populations of certain endemic birds which had co-evolved with the tree have plummeted as a result of its demise, while endemic cigalas and solitary bees were driven to extinction.

The Bermuda cedar is endemic to Bermuda, where it naturally occurs in coastal areas, rocky hillsides, and limestone soils throughout the island archipelago. It thrives in the subtropical maritime climate and was historically the dominant tree species across Bermuda's landscape before population crashes.