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Chamaecyparis thyoides var. thyoides is often confused with:
Thuja occidentalis Thuja occidentalis
Native alternative(s) for Chamaecyparis thyoides var. thyoides:
Juniperus communis var. depressa Juniperus comunis var. depressa
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cornus amomum Cornus amomum
Fraxinus caroliniana Form
Smilax walteri The only red fruited Smilax in North Carolina. Winter, Craven C
Chamaecyparis thyoides var. thyoides has some common insect problems:
Bagworms in Ornamental Landscapes

Atlantic White Cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides var. thyoides

Other plants called Atlantic White Cedar:

Phonetic Spelling
kam-ee-SIP-a-riss thy-OY-deez var. thy-OY-deez
Description

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.

More information on Chamaecyparis thyoides.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#rain garden#native tree#riparian#hedges#stream banks#pond margins#NC native#deer browsing plant#swamps#screening#larval host plant#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#mammals#Audubon#wet sites#boggy sites
 
Form
Form Plant Image Library CC-BY-SA 2.0
Leaves and cones
Leaves and cones Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz CC BY-SA 4.0
Leaves
Leaves Ethan Maitra CC BY-NC 4.0
Bark
Bark Jryanddoherty CC BY-SA 4.0
Stem
Stem jessicajane CC BY-NC 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#rain garden#native tree#riparian#hedges#stream banks#pond margins#NC native#deer browsing plant#swamps#screening#larval host plant#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#mammals#Audubon#wet sites#boggy sites
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Conical
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • 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, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
  • 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.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    No true flowers, male and female cones produced
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Branches grow in fan-like sprays
  • 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