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
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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.
- 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, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
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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:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
