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Western Red Cedar

The scientific name of the Western red cedar is Thuja plicata. It belongs to the cypress family, known botanically as Cupressaceae.

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Western red cedar trees
A hiker walking through a stand of Western red cedar trees (Thuja plicata) in British Columbia, Canada. © eppicphotography—iStock/Getty Images / Encyclopædia Britannica

What is the scientific name of the Western red cedar, and what family does it belong to?

The scientific name of the Western red cedar is Thuja plicata. It belongs to the cypress family, known botanically as Cupressaceae.123

Western red cedar
Western red cedar (Thuja plicata). Image: Verna R. Johnston / Encyclopædia Britannica

Where is the Western red cedar native to, and in what type of habitats does it thrive?

The Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is native to the Pacific coast of North America, specifically the Pacific Northwest region.31

While the provided information confirms its native range, it does not detail the specific ecological habitats or environmental conditions in which the tree thrives.

Western red cedar
Hikers passing a large old-growth Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) in North Cascades National Park, Washington. Image: Seifried/U.S. National Park Service / Encyclopædia Britannica

What are the key characteristics and physical features of the Western red cedar?

The Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is a large evergreen conifer characterized by its distinct pyramidal form.3

Physical Features

  • Size: These trees can reach heights of up to 60 meters (about 200 feet) with a circumference of 6 meters above their strongly buttressed base.3
  • Bark: The outer bark is thin, cinnamon-red or brownish, and scaly, often shedding in irregular flakes. The inner bark is fibrous.3
  • Branches and Foliage: The tree features short, horizontal, or slightly drooping branches. Its dense branchlet systems are arranged in flattened sprays that appear bright green on top and dark waxy green underneath. The leaves are tiny, pointed, and scalelike, sometimes displaying faint whitish patches on the undersurface.3
  • Cones: The tree produces egg-shaped or elongated cones that are 8 to 12 mm (0.3 to 0.5 inch) long, consisting of five to six pairs of thin, flexible scales.3

Due to its resistance to moisture and decay, the wood is highly valued for applications such as boat making, shingles, and greenhouse fittings.3

How long can Western red cedars live, and what factors contribute to their longevity?

Sorry, the Britannica knowledge base does not contain information regarding the lifespan of the Western red cedar or the specific factors that contribute to its longevity.

Sources

  1. red cedar — Encyclopædia Britannica
  2. Cupressaceae — Encyclopædia Britannica
  3. Western red cedar — Encyclopædia Britannica
  4. western red cedar — Merriam-Webster

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