Western Red-cedar Thuja plicata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- THU-ya ply-KAY-tuh
- Description
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Western redcedar is a woody, needled evergreen tree in the cypress family (Cupressaceae) native to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The species epithet, plicata, is Latin for “braided” and references the positioning and folding of the leaves relative to one another.
Western redcedar will suffer in hot, humid climates but may be able to grow in the North Carolina mountains. This species grows in full sun, partial shade, or dappled sunlight and prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil high in organic matter and an acidic to neutral pH. It does not tolerate drought or dry winds. Propagate it by seeds or stem cuttings.
This is the largest tree in the cypress family and the growth rate is fast, typically 2 to 3 feet per year. It can reach a height of 50 to 70 feet (and is even taller in the wild) with a spread of 15 to 25 feet and live for hundreds of years. The oldest known specimens are over 1000 years old. Western redcedar wood is used as commercial timber. Its tight straight grain, fragrance, and resistance to decay make the wood useful for fences, boats, decks, telephone poles, shingles, and siding.
Branches may droop somewhat, with upturned ends that create a graceful appearance. Use as a specimen for large yards or recreational play areas, in riparian or woodland areas, in a rain or winter garden, or at the edges of ponds, streams, or bogs. It can be used as a hedge or privacy screen.
Quick ID Hints:
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Conifer, evergreen, narrow, pyramidal with a buttressed base measuring 50 to 70 feet in height
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Leaves are scale-like, opposite, shiny dark green, and have white butterfly or bowtie stomatal bands on the undersides of the leaf
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Small, erect, rosebud-shaped cones appear in the spring and mature in the autumn
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Bagworms and some root rots may occur.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
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- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Woods
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Bernheim selection'
- 'Can Can'
semi-dwarf tree, dense, upright, foliage dark green with golden white tips - 'Clemson'
- ‘Daniellow’
- 'Euchlora'
- 'Manor View'
- 'Roger's Aurea Sport'
- 'Stoneham Gold"
dwarf, up to 7 feet tall, bushy, compact, foliage has golden yellow tips - 'Sunshine'
bright gold foliage; however, bronze colored during the winter - 'Whipcord'
- 'Zabrina'
foliage has bands of green and golden yellow, pyramidal habit
- 'Bernheim selection'
- 'Bernheim selection', 'Can Can', 'Clemson', ‘Daniellow’, 'Euchlora', 'Manor View', 'Roger's Aurea Sport', 'Stoneham Gold", 'Sunshine', 'Whipcord', 'Zabrina'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Bernheim selection'
- 'Can Can'
semi-dwarf tree, dense, upright, foliage dark green with golden white tips - 'Clemson'
- ‘Daniellow’
- 'Euchlora'
- 'Manor View'
- 'Roger's Aurea Sport'
- 'Stoneham Gold"
dwarf, up to 7 feet tall, bushy, compact, foliage has golden yellow tips - 'Sunshine'
bright gold foliage; however, bronze colored during the winter - 'Whipcord'
- 'Zabrina'
foliage has bands of green and golden yellow, pyramidal habit
- 'Bernheim selection'
- 'Bernheim selection', 'Can Can', 'Clemson', ‘Daniellow’, 'Euchlora', 'Manor View', 'Roger's Aurea Sport', 'Stoneham Gold", 'Sunshine', 'Whipcord', 'Zabrina'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Thuja
- Species:
- plicata
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used it for the construction of shelter, canoes, boats, kayaks, and totem poles. It was also used for utensils, arrows, spears, and ceremonial objects. It makes an ideal low-smoke fuel for drying fish over and open fire. The roots and strips of bark were also harvested for making rope, baskets, mats, and clothing.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Native to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest (northwest United Sta
- Distribution:
- Alaska, western Oregon, western Washington, northwest California, northern Idaho and western Montana. In Canada, distribution is in western British Columbia. It has been introduced to the eastern U.S. and higher elevations of Hawaii. It has also become naturalized in Britain.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This tree provides habitat for various birds (woodpeckers, swallows, chickadees, and swifts). It provides cover and dens for small mammals such as raccoons and skunks. In densely forested areas it supports big game such as deer, elk, and black bears that feed on seedlings, saplings, bark, and exposed sapwood.
- Play Value:
- Screening
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Dense
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Seed cones and pollen cones appear on the same plant (monoecious). Slender, clustered, elliptical seed cones are 0.4-0.7 inches long, and 0.2 inches wide, usually containing 8-12 overlapping sharp-pointed scales. Initially, seed cones are green in the spring then ripen to brown in the fall. At maturity, the cones open to release 3-6 seeds each (1x5 mm in size) with lateral papery wings. Pollen cones appear at tips of leaf shoots, are 3-4 mm long, initially emerging as reddish-brown and shed yellow pollen in the spring.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Evergreen foliage is arranged in flat sprays of scale-like opposite leaves in rows of four. Leaves are shiny dark green with white markings on the underside that are shaped like a butterfly. 0.06 inches to 0.12 inches long (1.5 - 3 mm)
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Peeling
- Bark Description:
- The bark is thick, gray to reddish brown, aromatic, and can be torn off in strips.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are thin, green to brown, and resistant to breakage.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Wet Soil
