Thuja plicata Seeds | Western Red Cedar
LATIN NAME: Thuja plicata
COMMON NAME: Western Red Cedar
Plant Profile
Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) is a distinctive species, native to pacific northwest of north America. Full sun brings out its best, in deep, fertile ground. Mature plants top out at about Fifteen metres. Its open flowers are a reliable stop for bees and other pollinating visitors. Few species give back so generously for so little effort.
Science & Biotechnology
Thuja plicata sits in the Thuja group, a group that keeps botanists, horticulturists and plant breeders busy with questions of classification, adaptation and ornamental potential. The western red cedar has a distinguished record in forestry and botanical research. For practical purposes the message is encouraging: generations of cultivation have produced plants of predictable, well-mannered garden character.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Western Red Cedar earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Ecologically, the western red cedar is a keystone of the coastal rainforest. Its vast canopy gives food and shelter for countless species, its fibrous bark provides nesting material for birds, and it is one of the most important trees of one of the worlds great forests. Wood is prized for construction, fencing, decking, shingles and many other uses, being light, durable and resistant to decay, and it has a major place in timber industry of the Pacific Northwest. Mature plants need little attention in a well-chosen position.
Arborvitae is a premier hedge conifer; its thujone-rich oil limits internal use to professional territory, while its name, tree of life, recalls the vitamin-C tea that saved early explorers.
Growing from Seed
Raising Western Red Cedar from seed is straightforward. Growing a western red cedar from seed is easy and gives excellent results. Small seeds sit inside small, upright cones, which open to release them. A simple routine works well: sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, maintain even moisture, and provide full sun. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
It is a solid representative of the Thuja group, true to type from seed. Given full sun and free drainage, it asks for little routine attention.
Related Reading
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