Northern White-Cedar
Thuja occidentalis · Cupressaceae (Cypress family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Specialized (scale-like evergreen needles)
Shape
Flat, overlapping scale-like leaves arranged in opposite decussate pairs on flattened branchlets
Margin
Entire (smooth edges on individual flat scales)
Arrangement
Opposite, arranged in flattened, fan-like spray patterns on the twig
Venation
Parallel or indistinct due to the minute, scale-like nature of the foliage
Key Features
Flattened, fan-like sprays of tiny scale-like leaves; distinct aromatic scent when crushed; small, upright, woody cones with only a few pairs of scales; reddish-brown fibrous bark
Description
Thuja occidentalis is a medium-sized evergreen conifer tree with a conical or pyramidal crown, featuring a tapering trunk with fibrous, reddish-brown bark that peels in long vertical strips. It produces small, oblong seed cones and scale-like aromatic foliage arranged in flat sprays. It is a hardy, long-lived tree often found in wetlands and limestone outcrops.
Habitat
Typically found in damp woods, swamps, bogs, and along limestone cliffs and rocky shores, preferring moist, alkaline soils
Native Range
Native to northeastern North America, ranging from Nova Scotia west to Manitoba, and south to North Carolina along the mountains, widely planted as an ornamental across temperate regions