Giant Arborvitae

Thuja plicata (THU-ya ply-KAY-tuh)

Family: Cupressaceae Unknown Canopy (>40 ft)

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: Conifer, evergreen, narrow, pyramidal with a buttressed base measuring 50 to 70 feet in height Leaves are scale-like, opposite, shiny dark green, and have white butterfly or bowtie stomatal bands on the undersides of the leaf 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 More information on Thuja .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 61 attributes.