Slow-growing Pacific Northwest conifer of high cool coastal forests, with pale yellow heartwood that is unusually durable, even-textured, and dimensionally stable. The classic Pacific Northwest carving wood and quality musical-instrument wood.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 4–8 | −34.4 °C to −6.7 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H7 | down to −20 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 4–7 | −29 °C to −7 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 1–4 | −15 °C to 5 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Heartwood — pale yellow, exceptionally even-textured, durable, rot-resistant, easily carved — historically the premier carving wood of Pacific Northwest First Nations totem-pole and ceremonial mask carvers
- Yellow cedar dieback (climate-related, linked to loss of insulating snow cover over the shallow roots) is currently affecting many wild stands in southeast Alaska
- Not a true cedar (Cedrus) and not closely related to western red cedar despite the shared name — Callitropsis is in the Cupressaceae cypress family
- Slow growing — wild specimens yielding mature carving timber are typically 500+ years old, modern timber should be sourced from certified sustainable supply
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Yellow cedar (Alaska yellow cedar) against your zones