Facts About the Western Red Cedar Tree
The western red cedar tree is a beautiful specimen of the cypress family commonly found in the northwestern portions of the United States and up into Canada. In this area, the wood of the red cedar has been used by Native Americans for totem poles and masks, and by settlers and modern man for outdoor furniture, roofing shingles and decking. Does this Spark an idea?
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Characteristics
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The evergreen western red cedar (Thuja plicata) offers a strong but pleasant scent and is ideal for landscaping in open areas or in close proximity to buildings, due to its precise Christmas tree shape.
Varieties include Emerald Cone, Green Giant and Stoneham Gold, according to Treehelp.com. The branches of the western red cedar produce dense clusters of branches with short needles in thin, arch-shaped fronds, according to Forests of Oregon.
The bark of the western red cedar varies from a reddish-brown to a dark or light gray. It grows in thick, furrowed ridges.
Growing Conditions
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The western red cedar prefers moist and humid conditions, such as those found in the Pacific Northwest, and likes partial shade to full sun. Growing in zones 5 to 9, the western red cedar also does best in moist, alkaline to acid soil. In the wild, the tree survives best on level surfaces. When grown on slopes, the tree is more vulnerable to damage from high winds due to its shallow roots.
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Size
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The western red cedar spreads to about 15 to 20 feet in width, with heights ranging from 50 feet up to 200 feet in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. The tree continues to grow for up to 300 years, according to Forests of Oregon and the King County's Native Plant Guide.
Range
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The western red cedar is a low-maintenance tree once established. Its normal growing range extends from the northern coastline of California and up into the Pacific Northwest of Oregon and Washington state and ranges as far inland as western Montana.
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References
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