About the Western Red Cedar
Highly valued for its rot resistant wood, Western Red Cedars are also a valuable, attractive ornamental trees. When planted close together, they can be sheared to make an attractive screen. It is found in most natural settings in the Pacific northwest. Unlike the Douglas fir, it can be planted among other established trees to add screening since it is tolerant of some shade. It can be planted in moist soils that are not overly saturated. Western Red Cedar is also known as Giant Arborvitae. Arborvitae is Latin for “Tree of Life.” It was the most important tree for indigenous peoples. They used its wood for their longhouses and totem poles and its bark was processed to make clothing, hats, baskets and much more… (True Cedars are in the pine family and are native to Eurasia & Northern Africa.)
