Western Redcedar
Thuja plicata
The 'tree of life' to Northwest Coast peoples, with fragrant fanned foliage and fibrous cinnamon bark used for canoes, planks, and baskets. Thrives in wet ground and deep shade. The inner bark has been dried and ground into flour, and the pitch chewed as gum.
- Family
- Cupressaceae
- Type
- tree
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 50–70 ft
- Spacing
- 15–25 ft apart
- Light
- part shade, shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral
- Bloom
- April
- Bloom colors
- red, purple
- Wildlife value
- butterflies, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~50 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- specimen, rain garden
- Native states
- AK, CA, ID, MT, OR, WA