Western Red Cedar

Western Red Cedar

Western Red Cedar Thuja plicata is a large tree of the west coast of North America where it may be found growing in forests with Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock. Its bark is reddish and shreds easily and the base of the tapering trunk is flared and ridged. The leaves are small and pressed closely to the twigs as in other members of this family. Pacific coast peoples made totem poles of Western Red Cedar and also canoes and houses. [CH] {NT}