Western Red-cedar - Thuja plicata

Description

A large non-native conifer, growing to 65m. Leaf bases cover the twigs, creating flattened sprays of foliage in opposite pairs. Leaves sprouting from the twigs are small, only 2–3mm long, and scale-like with an ovate shape. They are dark glossy green above with whitish markings underneath. The seed bearing cones are elongated rather than spherical, with flattened cone scales.

Similar Species

Cypress species, hybrids and cultivars  (e.g. Leyland, Lawson and Nootka) and some adult Juniper foliage also has appressed scale like leaves, in flattened shoots.  The Eastern Red-cedar (Thuja occidentalis) may be present in parks and gardens

Identification difficulty
ID guidance

Foliage very similar to some cypress, but cones are elongated with flattened cone-scales.  Sweet smell - like pineapple - when crushed, unlike oily unpleasant smell of Nootka Cypress and resinous scent of Lawson's. 

Recording advice

Photograph of leaf spray underside, upperside and cones.  Note if sweet-smelling. It may not be possible to verify this from picture of foliage. 

Habitat

Planted for timber but also for ornament.

When to see it

All year round.

Life History

Evergreen perennial.

UK Status

Widespread, but most common in the southern half of England, in Wales and Lowland Scotland.

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known. No attempt was made to record this species in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Western Red Cedar, Western Red-cedar
Species group:
Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Pinales
Family:
Cupressaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
10
First record:
12/11/2011 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
23/01/2023 (Nicholls, David)

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