Chamaecyparis thyoides var. thyoides
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-ee-SIP-a-riss thy-OY-deez var. thy-OY-deez
- Description
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Atlantic white cedar is a woody, needled evergreen tree in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family. It is native to swampy areas and stream banks in the southeastern United States. The genus name derives from the Greek word chamai, for dwarf or low to the ground, and kyparissos, for cypress.
This variety of Atlantic white cedar needs consistently moist to wet, acidic to neutral, sandy or loamy soils in full sun to partial shade with protection from strong winds. It can withstand occasional flooding. Propagate it by root or stem cutting.
It has a multi-stemmed, conical, erect habit and grows 40 to 60 feet tall and 6 to 15 feet wide. The branches grow in a fan-like shape, leading some to confuse this plant with arborvitae.
It is at home when grown in bogs and swampy sites, along ponds and streams, or in rain gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. It does have some susceptibility to juniper blight, root rot, and certain insect pests such as bagworms. See Clemson's publication on root rot. This tree is frequently damaged by white tailed deer.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chamaecyparis
- Species:
- thyoides
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Pioneers used the wood for building homes
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, MA, MD, ME, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterfly larval host. Deer browse the plant in winter.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Female cones are inconspicuous and are yellow to red maturing to brown at the tips of short branchlets containing 5-15 winged seeds. Displays from October to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- No true flowers, male and female cones produced
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Scalelike leaves are paired, have short points on the tip and average 0.06 to 0.13 inch.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Ridges
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- "Bark dark brownish red, irregularly furrowed and ridged
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Branches grow in fan-like sprays
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
