Northern White-Cedar
Thuja occidentalis · Cupressaceae (Cypress family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Specialized scale-like evergreen leaves arranged in flat, fan-like sprays
Shape
Flat, tiny, overlapping scale-like leaves closely appressed to the flattened branchlets
Margin
Entire and smooth on individual scale leaves, with overlapping edges forming segmented margins along the sprays
Arrangement
Opposite, decussate scale leaves closely hugging the flattened, branching twigs
Venation
Parallel or obscurely branched due to the minute, scale-like nature of the foliage
Key Features
Flattened, fan-like spray of scale-like leaves, fragrant aromatic foliage when crushed, fibrous shredding reddish-brown bark, and tiny upright cones
Description
Northern White-Cedar is a medium-sized evergreen conifer featuring dense, scale-like foliage arranged in flat, fan-shaped sprays. The bark is reddish-brown and fibrous, peeling in narrow vertical strips. It produces small, oblong cones containing winged seeds and has a famously slow-growing yet long-lived habit.
Habitat
Thrives in moist to wet soils, often found in swamps, along streams, limestone cliffs, and damp forests, preferring alkaline soils and full sun to partial shade
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, spanning from southeastern Canada down through the Great Lakes region and into the northeastern United States, extending along the Appalachian Mountains