Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata): Bundle of 25

Description

Bundle of 25

At a Glance: Western Red Cedar is a large evergreen tree with a drooping leader that grows up to 195’ tall. It grows best on seepage and alluvial sites, but also occurs in drier habitats, especially on richer soil and in bogs. Branches tend to spread or droop slightly and then turn upward, branchlets are spray-like and strongly flattened horizontally . The bark is grey to reddish-brown tearing off in long fibrous strips, and the wood is aromatic.

Leaves: The scale-like leaves are opposite pairs in 4 rows, the leaves in one pair folded, the leaves in the other not. Closely pressed to stem in overlapping shingled arrangement that looks like a flattened braid. Their glossy yellow-green turns brown and sheds on branches 3-4 years old.

Cones: Pollen cones are minute, numerous and reddish. The seed cones with 8-12 scales are egg-shaped, about 1 cm long in loose clusters. They are green when immature, becoming brown, woody and turned upward with winged seeds.

Growing Conditions:

References:

MacKinnon, A., Pojar, J., & Alaback, P. B. (1994). Plants of the Pacific Northwest coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska. Richmond, Wash: Lone Pine Publishing.