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Chamaecyparis thyoides var. thyoides is often confused with:
Thuja occidentalis Thuja occidentalis
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Smilax walteri
Fraxinus caroliniana Form
Quercus lyrata Form and acorn

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 native evergreen tree in the cypress family.  It is found swampy areas and streambanks in the peaty-soils of eastern U.S.A from NJ to FL including the coastal area of NC. This tree is not grown commercially due to its specific environmental needs. The leaves are evergreen and scale-like with the branches growing in a fan-like shape. It can be confused with arborvitae. 

Atlantic White Cedar needs consistently moist to wet soils in sun to partial shade with protection from strong winds. It can be grown in bogs and swampy sites or along ponds or streams. 

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:
#native tree#riparian#wet sites#stream banks#NC native#deer browsing plant#swamps#larval host plant#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#mammals#audubon
 
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:
#native tree#riparian#wet sites#stream banks#NC native#deer browsing plant#swamps#larval host plant#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source herbage#Piedmont Mountains OBL#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#mammals#audubon
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Chamaecyparis
    Species:
    thyoides
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Pioneers used the wood for building homes
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    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
  • 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)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    Occasional Flooding
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 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 Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    No true flowers, male and female cones produced
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    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
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil