Compilation
Thuja occidentalis

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Name

Identification
Thuja occidentalis L. [family CUPRESSACEAE ] (stored under name); Thuja occidentalis L. [family CUPRESSACEAE ] Verified by P. D. Sell,
Related name
  • Thuja not on sheet
  • Thuja sp.
  • Juniperus sp.
  • Thuja occidentalis
Common name
  • cèdre-thuya occidental, Flora of North America Vol. 2
  • thuier cèdre, Flora of North America Vol. 2
  • Northern white-cedar, Flora of North America Vol. 2

Flora

Entry for Thuja occidentalis Linnaeus [family CUPRESSACEAE]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 2,
Names
Thuja occidentalis Linnaeus [family CUPRESSACEAE], Sp. Pl., 2: 1002. 1753
Treatment Author(s)
Kenton L. Chambers
Information
Trees to 15(--38) m, stunted or prostrate in harsh environments; trunk to 0.9(--1.8) m diam., sometimes divided into 2--3 secondary stems, often reproducing by layering or forming erect, rooted branches from fallen trunks; crown conical. Bark reddish brown or grayish brown, 6--9 mm thick, fibrous, fissured. Leaves of branchlets (1.5--)3--5 mm, acute, dull yellowish green on both surfaces of branchlets. Pollen cones 1--2 mm, reddish. Seed cones ellipsoid, (6--)9--14 mm, brown; fertile scales usually 2 pairs, each minutely mucronate. Seeds ca. 8 per cone, 4--7 mm (including wings), reddish brown. 2 n = 22.
Altitude range
0--900 m
Distribution
USA Conn.USA Ill.USA Ind.USA Ky.USA MaineUSA Md.USA Mass.USA Mich.USA Minn.USA N.H.USA N.Y.USA N.C.USA OhioUSA Pa.USA Tenn.USA Vt.USA Va.USA W.Va.USA Wis.Canada Man.Canada N.B.Canada N.S.Canada Ont.Canada P.E.I.Canada Que.
Discussion
Isolated stands of Thuja occidentalis occur north and east of its general range in Canada (to 51° 31' N latitude in Ontario, 50° N in Quebec). In the United States south of the Great Lakes and in southern New England, it occurs locally in scattered stands and is rare or extirpated at numerous former sites. In some areas, heavy winter browsing by deer greatly reduces reproductive success through elimination of seedlings or saplings.
Thuja occidentalis is widely utilized in ornamental silviculture and has more than 120 named cultivars. It was probably the first North American tree introduced into Europe (ca. 1566). It is an important timber tree; the wood is used for applications requiring decay resistance.

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