Thuja_info.html

Thuja occidentalis (Northern white cedar): Information.
Identifying characteristics: This species is also called the eastern arborvitae, the "tree of life"-perhaps because some Native Americans used it as a cure for scurvy, passing on the knowledge to French settlers. It is a dense, pyramidal to irregularly-oblong, evergreen conifer and often has branches near the ground with horizontal sprays of foliage. In cultivation plants grow to 60 feet tall with a spread of 15 feet. Abruptly-pointed, dark green, scalelike leaves (to 0.1 inches long) occur in opposite pairs closely appressed to the twigs. The species may become greenish-yellow or brownish in winter. The small (to 0.5 inches long), oblong cones are yellowish and erect, becoming pendant, light brown and woody when they mature (at the end of the first summer). Scale bracts are rounded and may have a minute prickle at the tip. Only 4 of the 8 to 12 cone scales are fertile and bear seeds. Seeds are released in the fall, but cones persist into winter. The naked buds are minute and covered by the leaves. Bark is thin, reddish-brown to gray-brown and fibrous, forming a network of interconnecting ridges and furrows. Similar species: eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) Ecology: Distribution: The northern white cedar is native to southeastern Canada, the Great Lakes states and New England. It is planted throughout Iowa. Habitat: This species requires abundant soil moisture, atmospheric moisture and full sun. It occurs at lower elevations in swamps or along lakeshores. It prefers neutral or alkaline soils, but is tolerant of acidic soils, and once established, can survive heat and drought. It is a slow- to medium-grower, and grows well in regions with high snowfall. Northern white cedar is hardy and relatively free of pests and diseases, but in dry areas it is susceptible to rapid temperature changes in late winter and spring (winter injury), which causes browning of the leaves. Uses: Wood: Wood is light, soft, and weak but it is easy to work and resistant to decay. It is valued for canoes, canoe frames, boats, docks, fishing lures, floats, poles, posts, fences and shingles. Wildlife: This species is of limited value to wildlife. White-tail deer, snowshoe hares and moose feed on the foliage in winter. A small finch of the evergreen forests (the pine siskin) eats the seeds, and porcupines feed on the bark. Red squirrels eat the buds in spring and store cone-laden branchlets for winter use. Horticulture: This species has a shallow root system, transplants easily, grows easily from cuttings and is widely cultivated for use as an ornamental. It is a good accent plant for use in landscaping. It responds well to pruning and is often used as a hedge or foundation planting. In northeast Iowa it is sometimes used as a windbreak. There are over 100 cultivars, and 3 stand out as being suited to colder regions: 'Techny' is a popular form with a pyramidal shape, growing to 15 feet tall, with good green winter foliage; 'Nigra' has a pyramidal shape to 30 feet tall, with good green winter foliage; and 'Emerald' retains its emerald foliage in winter, is a narrow, pyramidal tree to 15 feet tall and is cold hardy to minus 40 degrees F.

Thuja occidentalis (Northern white cedar): Information.

Identifying characteristics:
This species is also called the eastern arborvitae, the "tree of life"-perhaps because some Native Americans used it as a cure for scurvy, passing on the knowledge to French settlers. It is a dense, pyramidal to irregularly-oblong, evergreen conifer and often has branches near the ground with horizontal sprays of foliage. In cultivation plants grow to 60 feet tall with a spread of 15 feet. Abruptly-pointed, dark green, scalelike leaves (to 0.1 inches long) occur in opposite pairs closely appressed to the twigs. The species may become greenish-yellow or brownish in winter. The small (to 0.5 inches long), oblong cones are yellowish and erect, becoming pendant, light brown and woody when they mature (at the end of the first summer). Scale bracts are rounded and may have a minute prickle at the tip. Only 4 of the 8 to 12 cone scales are fertile and bear seeds. Seeds are released in the fall, but cones persist into winter. The naked buds are minute and covered by the leaves. Bark is thin, reddish-brown to gray-brown and fibrous, forming a network of interconnecting ridges and furrows.

Similar species:

eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Ecology:
Distribution: The northern white cedar is native to southeastern Canada, the Great Lakes states and New England. It is planted throughout Iowa.

Habitat: This species requires abundant soil moisture, atmospheric moisture and full sun. It occurs at lower elevations in swamps or along lakeshores. It prefers neutral or alkaline soils, but is tolerant of acidic soils, and once established, can survive heat and drought. It is a slow- to medium-grower, and grows well in regions with high snowfall. Northern white cedar is hardy and relatively free of pests and diseases, but in dry areas it is susceptible to rapid temperature changes in late winter and spring (winter injury), which causes browning of the leaves.

Uses:
Wood: Wood is light, soft, and weak but it is easy to work and resistant to decay. It is valued for canoes, canoe frames, boats, docks, fishing lures, floats, poles, posts, fences and shingles.

Wildlife: This species is of limited value to wildlife. White-tail deer, snowshoe hares and moose feed on the foliage in winter. A small finch of the evergreen forests (the pine siskin) eats the seeds, and porcupines feed on the bark. Red squirrels eat the buds in spring and store cone-laden branchlets for winter use.

Horticulture: This species has a shallow root system, transplants easily, grows easily from cuttings and is widely cultivated for use as an ornamental. It is a good accent plant for use in landscaping. It responds well to pruning and is often used as a hedge or foundation planting. In northeast Iowa it is sometimes used as a windbreak. There are over 100 cultivars, and 3 stand out as being suited to colder regions: 'Techny' is a popular form with a pyramidal shape, growing to 15 feet tall, with good green winter foliage; 'Nigra' has a pyramidal shape to 30 feet tall, with good green winter foliage; and 'Emerald' retains its emerald foliage in winter, is a narrow, pyramidal tree to 15 feet tall and is cold hardy to minus 40 degrees F.