Western Red Cedar
Thuja plicata · Evergreen Coniferous Softwood
Plant Family
Cupressaceae
Tree Category
Conifer, Large Evergreen, Timber Tree
Variety / Cultivar
None specified (Wild type)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 5–8.
About This Tree
A very large to mammoth evergreen tree with a broadly conical to irregular crown. It features drooping branches that often turn upward at the ends (J-shape). It is known for its long life and massive trunk diameter at maturity.
Leaf Characteristics
Scale-like leaves arranged in flattened, fan-like sprays. They are dark green on top with distinct white 'butterfly' or 'X' markings on the underside. Crushed foliage has a sweet, pineapple-like or resinous scent.
Bark Characteristics
Thin, reddish-brown to grey-brown bark that is fibrous and stringy, peeling in long, vertical strips. It becomes deeply furrowed on very old specimens.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, from southern Alaska to Northern California and east to Montana.
Growing Season
Evergreen; exhibits year-round foliage. Male and female cones develop in spring; pollination occurs in late spring via wind.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Partial Shade (highly shade tolerant when young). Requires moist, well-drained soils and high humidity; thrives in cool, temperate rainforest environments; low drought tolerance.
Mature Size
Typically 50–70 meters (160–230 feet) tall with a 3–6 meter (10–20 feet) spread. Fast growth rate in ideal conditions; can live over 1,000 years.
Special Characteristics
Highly rot-resistant timber used for shingles, siding, and decking. It is the State Tree of Washington and has profound cultural significance to Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest (often called the 'Tree of Life').
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides critical nesting sites for birds like the Pileated Woodpecker and roosting habitat for bats and owls. The dense canopy offers winter thermal cover for large mammals like deer and elk.