Red Cedar Tree

You may have observed a giant tree that is up to 60 meters tall and has drooping branches and a trunk that spreads out widely at the base? Well, you may have encountered a red cedar tree, which is a member if Cupressaceae family. The red cedar tree scientific name is Thuja plicata. The following article will give you some more interesting red cedar tree information, that will be useful for you.

Red Cedar Tree Information

Habitat
The western red cedar tree is a native to northwestern America and southwestern Canada. The western red cedar tree habitat also covers the southern Alaska and British Columbian regions. In the south to northwest California and western Montana, western red cedar trees are commonly found. The red cedar tree is found growing at an elevation of 1370 meters above sea level and is found to flourish in the lush forests and mountainsides. Being a riparian tree, it also grows in swamps and stream banks. It can grow and reproduce under dense shade as it is a shade tolerant tree too.

Seeds
The seeds consist of seed cones that are ellipsoid. These seed cones are about 1 centimeter long and shaped like an egg. It has many pairs of scales and the pollen cones are reddish in color. There are about 8 to 14 seeds per cone and have lateral wings.

Leaves
The red cedar tree leaves are scale like leaves. These leaves grow in opposite pairs in four rows. One pair is folded, while the other is not. They look like overlapping shingles. The leaves are arranged on flat, fan like sprays on a twig. They have a very strong spicy aroma and are evergreen leaves. They are glossy green above and white striped on the lower side.

Bark
The bark is gray in color. It is stringy in nature and can tear off in long strips on the mature trees.

Height
The western red cedar tree reaches about 40 to 150 feet in height and about 22 feet in diameter at the trunk. It develops a crown that reaches the ground and it can live for more than 1000 years.

Planting
You need to plant the western red cedar tree at a 20 to 30 feet distance from another western red cedar tree. Plant the tree in a spot that receives full sun, that is, an area that receives 6 or more hours of continuous sunlight. The tree grows well in soil pH between 5.5 to 8.5.

Dig a hole that is as wide as the root ball and as deep as the container containing the root ball. Place the red cedar tree in the center and back fill with soil. You should make a watering ring around the perimeter of the planting hole. This will ensure that the water is directed to the roots on the outside. You should water the tree well, with at least an inch of water once every week. Mulch with three inches of compost or pulverized bark.

Tree Care
You need to water the tree deeply once a week than shallow and frequent watering. The red cedar tree does not require to be fertilized very often. During the first year of the tree, feed it with phosphorous based fertilizer to encourage root growth. Then every three years, feed the tree with tree fertilizer. If the soil is poor in nutrients, then add a nutrient based fertilizer to the soil, instead of an all around fertilizer.

These trees are sturdy and can grow under many conditions. These evergreen trees have tightly packed leaves that attract deer during winter. Take care that leaves are not excessively grazed by the deer or the tree may die. The red cedar tree care also includes caring for the bark. Due to its fibrous string nature, the bark is used for weaving. Excessive stripping of the bark will also kill the tree. Therefore, do not indulge in stripping the barks out.

Tree Facts
Let us now take a look at some of the interesting facts about red cedar trees.

• The western red cedar tree is also known as the giant arborvitae, western arborvitae, giant red cedar, Pacific red cedar and canoe cedar. It is also known as shinglewood.
• The official tree of the British Columbia is the western red cedar tree.
• The western red cedar tree was known as the 'tree of life' by the Native Americans.
• The seed cones of western red cedar are bent backward along the branches.
• The dropping branches of red cedar turn up at the tip.
• The western red cedar tree can grow in cold, mild, moist locations and in shaded areas that have a rich nutrient soil.
• The western red cedar can grow over 60 meters in height.
• The red cedar wood is resistant to decay and damage by insects.
• The furniture made of red cedar wood can survive for over 100 years without damage.
• Few red cedar trees found on Queen Charlotte islands are known to be over 900 years old.
• In 1972, vandals set fire and destroyed a 74 meters tall and over 800 years old red cedar in Cathedral Groove on Vancouver Island.
• The red cedar wood is used to make interior paneling, outdoor furniture, mats, clothing, baskets, fishing lines, medicines, religious masks, decking, fencing, etc.

This is one sturdy and strong tree, that will remain in your backyard for a long, long time. The red cedar tree is used for many purposes and helps make long-lasting furniture. The next time you take a walk in the woods, make sure you spend a few moments admiring the gentle red cedar tree.