Western red cedar

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Western red cedar (Thuja plicata)

  • Needles: overlapping, scale-like (<0.2 in.), yellow-green to dark green on top; underside has a white butterfly-shaped stomatal bloom
  • Bark: On mature trees, red-brown to gray-brown; ridged and narrowly furrowed with fibrous stringy strips that peel off.
  • Cones: Upright and in clusters, up to 1 in. long. Green when closed; brown with 8-12 extended scales when opened.
  • Form: Large tree with narrow, open conical head with long pendulous branches.
  • Unique identifier: Stringy bark, clustered, upright cones, underside has a white butterfly-shaped stomatal bloom