Tall conifer of Pacific Northwest temperate rainforest, reaching 65 m, with the principal lightweight rot-resistant timber of the region. Used for weatherboarding, shingles, and the carved cedar of Pacific Northwest First Nations.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 5–7 | −28.9 °C to −12.2 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H6 | −20 °C to −15 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 5–7 | −23 °C to −7 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 2–5 | −10 °C to 10 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Heartwood is exceptionally rot-resistant and light — the standard cladding, shingle, and external-joinery timber of Pacific Northwest and Northern European carpentry
- Culturally fundamental to Pacific Northwest First Nations — used for ocean-going canoes, totem poles, longhouses, and bark for clothing
- Not a true cedar (which are in the Cedrus genus) — Thuja is in the Cupressaceae cypress family
- Shade tolerant — succeeds under existing canopy, slow and steady growth over centuries
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Western red cedar against your zones