Western red cedar (Thuja plicata)

Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is a conifer that can grow higher than 15m tall and wider than 8 metres wide.

This plant has several common names including: western red cedar, British Columbia cedar, Californian white cedar, giant arbor-vitae, Nootka Sound arbor-vitae, western arbor-vitae or yellow cypress.

This is a evergreen plant that takes 10-20 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: western red cedar, British Columbia cedar, Californian white cedar, giant arbor-vitae, Nootka Sound arbor-vitae, western arbor-vitae, yellow cypress
Scientific name: Thuja plicata
Plant type: Conifers, Trees
Habit: Columnar / Upright
Height: Higher than 15m
Spread: Wider than 8 metres
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Well drained
Garden type: Architectural
Planting type: Hedging & Screens, Low Maintenance

Seasonal colors

How to plant Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) – Caitriana Nicholson from 北京 ~ Beijing, 中国 ~ China, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cultivation profiles – Growing Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) – Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons