According to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, many trees over 1,500 years old have been discovered. Today an oil is distilled from its leaves. Only the top is made of cedar or, most commonly, Sitka spruce. This is one reason when the wood is often resistant to decay. It grows in both a wild and a cultivated form in Canada and the United States. The back and sides of a guitar are always hardwood such as mahogany, rosewood or walnut (temperate hardwoods such as cherry or plane are increasingly favoured because of the increasing rarity of tropical ones). 37. The western red cedar tree is a native of North America and is known as a perennial tree. Thanks again for a very interesting presentation. 39. Its foliage develops in sprays about 6 in (15 cm) long with sm… It is incredible to think of them standing for 1,000 or even 1,500 years! Best offers for your Garden - https://amzn.to/2InnD0w ----- Interesting Facts on the Red Cedar Tree. Western Redcedar is immortal! Its common place presence throughout makes it suffer the stigma of being too familiar. The red cedar (sometimes called Florida Red Cedar) is the ultimate in an outdoor Christmas tree, and though its form is pyramidal it can grow wider as it matures. In addition, the tree provides a good place for some birds to nest. The foliage is blue-green to green and needlelike. T… It tends to be brown when the trunk spends most of its time in the shade and grey when it's often exposed to the sun. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on October 09, 2018: I appreciate your comment, Dora. They are a lighter shade of green on their undersurface, which sometimes has white markings. Question: My western red cedar is covered with seeds. Soil type: Any type except poorly drained It has the same type of leaves but is a smaller and bushier tree. Peg Cole from Northeast of Dallas, Texas on October 11, 2018: Beautiful photos and interesting uses of this gorgeous, long-living tree. The condition generally involves redness and itching. Western red cedar is used to make guitars *always*, not sometimes, in combination with other woods. Wildlife also makes use of the tree. 27. I'm glad they grow in our part of the world. However, this species certainly has a place in our landscapes since there are cultivars that have dark green foliage, showy “fruit”, and a variety of forms (see Additional Information section). The bark of the western red cedar's trunk is red brown to grey. Red cedar will easily grow in a variety of soils, including clay, but will not do well when roots are constantly moist or wet. A western red cedar at Blarney Castle in Ireland, Robert Linsdell, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 License. Physical Features of the Plant. It's still valuable in their culture today. The silver-gray cones (fleshy coverings on seeds often referred to as juniper “berries) on females are quite attractive in the fall and winter. Red cedar, also called western red cedar, is the species Thuja plicata. The term reflects the fact that gymnosperm seeds are not surrounded by a fruit. Some western red-cedars have been recorded to reach 1,500 years of age. A buttress root branches from a tree's trunk above ground and then extends into the ground. It is said to be a very strong tree and its strength is celebrated in its native land. 14. Conifers belong to a major group of plants known as gymnosperms. It’s a versatile tree. The flat and spreading leaves of the tree can provide great protection from the rain, as I recently discovered. Cedars have such an amazing scent. The Red Cedar has been our family Christmas Tree forever, not really user friendly for hanging decorations like a Frasier Fir, but the aroma and the deep green color rival any other. It is also tolerant of poor dry soils as well as alkaline soils. Some rosewood and mahogany species are experiencing problems at the moment. It's generally found in subalpine areas and is classified in the genus Cupressus. 1986, Stephens 1973). 29. 23. Caution- Eastern Red Cedar is actually quite toxic if ingested. I appreciate your visit and comment. 1. Thanks for the idea and the comment, Heidi. Berries (actually seed cones) on a female Eastern red cedar tree. It matures to 40 to 50 feet tall and 8 to 20 feet wide. Height: About 40 feet There once existed a good man who gave his belongings to people in need. Be sure to know the difference between the two trees if you’re planning to use for medicinal purposes. Even so, in some years a tree may produce more cones than in others. 28. Western red cedar is a tree that grows to a height of 125 ft (60 m) in moist soils in mixed coniferous forests. Both types of cones develop on the same tree and are woody in appearance when mature. In earlier times, the western red cedar had both a cultural and a spiritual significance for the people of the First Nations. Eastern and western red cedar trees play vital roles within their ecosystems, providing shelter and food for many types of wildlife. The tree is dioecious, meaning that male pollen cones and female seed cones are on separate trees. Coast Salish people have a lovely legend about the creation of the tree. diameter, ridged near the base, and sometimes shallowly pitted. 1986, Stephens 1973). Light: Full sun It holds its deep dark green color year-round and has a wonderful scent. The terminal branchlets bear flat rows of leaves on either side in an arrangement called a spray. 26. Chitrangada Sharan from New Delhi, India on October 22, 2018: Excellent and informative article about the Western Cedar trees. I love the thought of long rows of cedar trees! The evergreen tree is shaped like a pyramid or column, with reddish-brown to grayish colored bark that is fibrous and shedding. Being able to treat the ducts of "sick buildings" with the oil is valuable information. I’m planting 250 Red Cedars now from Alpha Nurseries in double rows as privacy screens/windbreaks. Wood from western red cedar is sometimes used to make the soundboard of guitars. 7. This cedar is very adaptable to various growing conditions and is low maintenance. "Majestic" is a great word to describe many of the trees. 13. of the tree are often available. Also called red cedar, eastern juniper, red juniper, pencil cedar, or aromatic cedar, this evergreen is indigenous to the entire state of Tennessee and was one of the earliest landscape trees used by early pioneers. I love the smell that the trees create. I think they're lovely trees, too. The leaves range from yellow green to medium green in colour, depending in part on the lighting conditions. Walter Siegmund, via Wikipedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 License. The tree is frequently conical but is sometimes irregularly shaped. Eastern red cedar ( Juniperus virginiana ) is a species of tree native to Eastern and Central North America.The Eastern red cedar has a moderate growth rate, and can add about 12 to 18 inches of height per year. I especially like Cedar trees. Western red cedar trees and shrubs are pyramidal in form. There are 1-3 seeds per cone. Hi, Flourish. 3. Thank you, Eman. The seed cones are much bigger than the pollen ones. Tales say that a person could receive its strength just by standing with their back to the tree. The members of the genus are often known as arborvitaes from the Latin words for tree of life. Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a medium-sized dioecious or rarely monoecious tree from 10-20 m (33-66') tall (McGregor et al. Only a section of bark was removed on a particular tree in order to keep it alive. Historically, First Nations people made use of both plants. I have a Canadian-made classical guitar that has a cedar top. Fibres from both the red and yellow cedar were used to weave clothing, hats, blankets, and mats. Western red cedars sometimes exhibit this characteristic, though the position of the division or divisions into different trunks varies. 19. The wood contains plicatic acid, which can provoke asthma and allergies in sensitive people. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on October 08, 2018: Detecting scents online would be lovely! Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a medium-sized dioecious or rarely monoecious tree from 10-20 m (33-66') tall (McGregor et al. Both self and cross pollination occur in the western red cedar. 33. Genna East from Massachusetts, USA on October 13, 2018: Such gorgeous trees, Linda...and stunning photographs! It is a pioneer species in that is quickly populates farm fields and other open areas (seeds spread in bird droppings). Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on October 09, 2018: To being with, the leaves are very attractive. Nootka cypress or the yellow cedar is a somewhat similar plant to the red cedar. It's valued for both its durability and its relatively light weight. Hi, Manatita. As with other essential oils from plants, it's very important to investigate effectiveness and safety before using the liquid for any purpose. First Nations people have made good use of these strips, as described below. When a pollen grain enters a seed cone, it delivers a sperm nucleus to an ovule inside the cone. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on October 22, 2018: Thanks for the comment and for sharing the information, Chitrangada. This false cedar is … Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on October 08, 2018: Finally you reported on something I know about. Though Eastern Redcedar trees are widely distributed throughout the eastern half of the United States, it is a very slow-growing species, and most trees harvested tend to be fairly small in diameter. I think the age of some of the plants is impressive. Fallen branches sometimes develop roots, for example. Cedar trees are limited to the Mediterranean region, while eastern and western red cedar trees grow in the United States in different habitat ranges. It grows best in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It’s the official tree of British Columbia, where I live. Jackie Lynnley from the beautiful south on October 08, 2018: I love these trees. To emphasize the plant's real lineage, some people join the last two words of its name together and call it the western redcedar. Here is some detailed information on cedar trees. It's an important and interesting plant. Plant Needs, Zone: 3 to 9 Western Red Cedar Essential Oil is a rare and unique oil that is distilled from the leaves and branches of the tree. (The tree’s name is spelled either red-cedar or redcedar… Eastern redcedar is a misnomer since this species is a juniper and not a true cedar; cedars are in the Cedrus genus. 16. It is grown in the Hawaiian Islands of the United States, and southern and eastern Africa. It has the scientific name Thuja plicata and belongs to the cypress family, or the Cupressaceae. The western red-cedar is a tree that continues to surpass the others. Shows how important one tree species can be to the ecosystem. Thanks for the visit. Thuja plicata contains three interesting chemicals (and probably many more that would be interesting to investigate). This is the term used for buildings that cause symptoms of ill health in the people who work there. The trees are beautiful and used in so many ways. In addition, it's used to make decks and both indoor and outdoor furniture. Each seed or female cone produces around three to six seeds on average. Thanks for the visit, Louise. It provides extra support for the tree and sometimes extra nutrients as well. I think it definitely deserves the honour of being the official tree of British Columbia. 2. Western red cedar trees are popular as ornamental plants in parks near my home and are used to form hedges in local gardens. When they join, they form a diploid zygote, which has the full number of chromosomes and becomes a new plant. 15. California Incense Cedar is used in the manufacture of pencils. Am I doing something wrong? Care, No special care is needed. A pollen cone is about one to three millimetres long and is borne at the tip of a row of leaves. All cedars are large coniferous evergreen trees. Shape: Typically narrow conical tree but ranges from conical to columnar (column-like), Eastern redcedar is widely distributed throughout the eastern US. Linda Crampton is a writer and teacher with an honors degree in biology. Eastern Red Cedar Tree Facts, Identification, Uses, Pictures Guitar soundboards are made from western red cedar trees, while guitar necks are made of Spanish cedar. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 15, 2020: No, not really, though I know that it can form a dense root system in ideal conditions. Color of the leaves depends on the thickness of the wax. It has a conical shape when young but when fully grown it has a flat crown and horizontal branches, creating a grand, tiered silhouette. I love the idea of a guitar manufacturer using fallen wood instead of destroying trees. Yes, I think the tree is awesome. The bark is fissured. Female and male cones are borne on separate trees. Eastern red cedars (Juniperus vinginiana) are also known as juniper, savin evergreen, cedar apple and Virginia red cedar. Red cedar trees can be grown in most areas of Floridaif you have the space for them to reach their mature size. The bark of the western red cedar's trunk is red brown to grey. There is a park near me with long rows of them and I have so many pictures because they are so beautiful. Mature trees aged 50 and older are usually 40 … Cedar leaves are covered with thick layer of white wax which prevents loss of water. Eastern red cedar is toxic if taken internally. Trees were cut down, but not excessively. She loves to study nature and write about living things. Leave are opposite, simple, green or blue- green, closely appressed and overlapping the leaf above, scale-like, and 0.2-0.3 cm (1/16-1/8”) long or needlelike and 0.6-1.2 cm (1/4-1/2”) long. The plant is capable of vegetative reproduction. They also make ideal windbreak trees. Thank you for the comment, Jackie. I think the western red cedar was an excellent choice for the official tree of the province. It's found from southern Alaska to Northern California. I’m age 70 and enjoy leaving behind these treasured trees. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on October 11, 2018: Thanks for the comment, Peg. Western red cedar is a very tall conifer tree (left) but dwarf cultivars are available too such as Thuja plicata ‘Green Giant’ (left) Unlike the eastern red cedar, the western red cedar is a massive type of tree, reaching up to 230 ft. (70 m) tall. 18. As the rain started to pour down, I moved under a large western red cedar tree and stayed amazingly dry. On the coast, it generally grows with Douglas fir and western hemlock. Western Red Cedar trees, native to USA, can grow up to 150 feet and live for more than 1000 years. Hi Linda, the western red cedar is a good choice for British Columbia’s tree. The tree is most strongly associated with damp and sometimes foggy coastal forest. Each leaf is a small scale only 2 to 3 mm long. Fibrous and shedding pollination occur in the people of British Columbia, on. In biology, my friend some tree Park in the Cedrus genus extra support the. Choice for British Columbia, Canada on October 08, 2018: I doubt whether there is a and! 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