Western Redcedar
Western Redcedar, Thuja plicata, a species of thuja, is an evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family Cupressaceae, native to the northwestern US and southwestern Canada, from southern Alaska and British Columbia south to northwest California and inland to western Montana. It is also known (mainly in the American horticultural trade) as Giant Arborvitae. The name Western Redcedar is also sometimes split into three words as 'Western Red Cedar', though this can cause confusion, as it is not a cedar.
It is a large tree, to 50-60 m tall and 3 m (exceptionally 6 m) trunk diameter. The foliage forms in flat sprays with scale-like leaves. The cones are slender, 15-20 mm long and 4-5 mm broad, with 8-12 thin, overlapping scales.
Uses
The soft red-brown timber is valued for its resistance to decay, being extensively used for outdoor construction. It is also widely used as an ornamental tree and for screens and hedges.
