Thuja plicata Donn ex D.Don

Western or giant arborvitae (en), Thuya géant (fr), Cèdre de l'Ouest (fr), Thuya plié (fr)

Species

Gymnosperms > Cupressales > Cupressaceae > Thuja

Characteristics

A very large evergreen tree. It grows 22-60 m tall and spreads 6-9 m wide. It has a conical shape. The trunk tapers rapidly and is buttressed at the base. At higher altitudes it becomes a small tree. The bark is light reddish brown and peels and flakes off. The main branches spread and droop but turn upwards at the ends. The branches can extend to the ground and cover the trunk. The leaves are bright green with a white cross on the underside. The leaves are flat and make up many small scale like sections. They have a pineapple smell when crushed. The twigs are leaf covered and are feather like. The seed cone is oval and 12-18 mm long. There are 8-10 scales with a small sharp point at the tip.
More
Trees to 50(--75) m, sometimes stunted in harsh environments; trunk to 2(--5) m diam., often buttressed at base; crown conical. Bark reddish brown or grayish brown, 10--25 mm thick, fibrous, fissured. Branches arching, branchlets pendent. Leaves of branchlets (1--)3--6 mm (sprays sometimes bearing only very small leaves), apex acute, with white markings on abaxial surface when fresh, glossy green on adaxial surface of branchlets. Pollen cones 1--3 mm, reddish. Seed cones ellipsoid, 10--14 mm, brown; fertile scales 2--3 pairs, each with evident, nearly terminal, deltate projection. Seeds 8--14 per cone, 4--7.5 mm (including wings), reddish brown. 2 n = 22.
Trees to 50(-75) m tall; trunk to 2(-5) m d.b.h., often buttressed at base; bark reddish brown or grayish brown, fibrous, fissured; crown conical; branches arching; branchlets pendulous. Leaves on upper side of branchlets glossy green, (1-)3-6 mm, apex acuminate; lateral leaves longer than facial leaves, apex straight. Pollen cones reddish, 1-3 mm. Seed cones brown, ellipsoid, 1-1.4 cm; fertile cone scales 4-6. Seeds reddish-brown, 4-7.5 mm (including wings).
Life form perennial
Growth form tree
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention evergreen
Sexuality monoecy
Pollination anemogamy
Spread anemochory
Mature width (meter) 6.0 - 9.0
Mature height (meter) 40.0 - 45.7
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) 0.8
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Fruit color -
Fruiting months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway c3

Environment

It is a temperate plant. In Canada it grows from sea level to 2000 m altitude. It grows in wetter places. It does best on moist alluvial sites. It is frost hardy. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. In Hobart Botanical gardens. Arboretum Tasmania.
More
Grows singly and in small groves, on various substrates, in moist to swampy soils, usually in shady forests; at elevations from sea-level to 1,500 metres.
Light 4-8
Soil humidity 4-7
Soil texture 1-6
Soil acidity 2-8
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 6-9

Usage

The inner bark is edible. In spring it is eaten fresh or can be dried and ground into a powder. The wood is used during cooking to impart a flavour to fish. Caution: It should only be eaten in small amounts.
Uses dye environmental use fiber fuel material medicinal oil wood
Edible barks
Therapeutic use Dermatological Aid (bark), Abortifacient (bark), Unspecified (bark), Hemostat (bark), Kidney Aid (bark), Analgesic (leaf), Antirheumatic (External) (leaf), Cough Medicine (leaf), Gastrointestinal Aid (leaf), Heart Medicine (leaf), Other (leaf), Antidiarrheal (leaf), Orthopedic Aid (leaf), Cold Remedy (root), Febrifuge (seed), Tuberculosis Remedy (tuber), Antirheumatic (External) (unspecified), Gastrointestinal Aid (unspecified), Heart Medicine (unspecified), Respiratory Aid (unspecified), Toothache (unspecified), Eye Medicine (unspecified), Antiemetic (unspecified), Pulmonary Aid (unspecified), Cough Medicine (unspecified), Cold Remedy (unspecified), Pediatric Aid (unspecified), Dermatological Aid (unspecified), Poison (unspecified), Tonic (unspecified), Ceremonial Medicine (unspecified), Venereal Aid (unspecified), Oral Aid (unspecified), Gynecological Aid (unspecified), Misc. Disease Remedy (unspecified), Psychological Aid (unspecified), Ache(Back) (unspecified), Carbuncle (unspecified), Sore (unspecified), Witchcraft (unspecified), Religion (unspecified), Sty (unspecified), Swelling (unspecified), Abdominal pain (unspecified), Abortifacient agents (unspecified), Analgesics (unspecified), Antirheumatic agents (unspecified), Appetite stimulants (unspecified), Astringents (unspecified), Bronchitis (unspecified), Common cold (unspecified), Cough (unspecified), Diarrhea (unspecified), Edema (unspecified), Expectorants (unspecified), Fever (unspecified), Heart diseases (unspecified), Counterirritant (unspecified), Kidney diseases (unspecified), Postnatal care (unspecified), General tonic for rejuvenation (unspecified), Sexually transmitted diseases (unspecified), Tuberculosis (unspecified), Wounds and injuries (unspecified)
Human toxicity toxic (seed)
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Plants can be grown by seed or from cuttings. It can be grown by layering.
Mode cuttings seedlings
Germination duration (days) 14 - 60
Germination temperacture (C°) 8
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment stratification
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Habit

Thuja plicata habit picture by Giugnola (cc-by-sa)
Thuja plicata habit picture by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)
Thuja plicata habit picture by Goulson (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Thuja plicata leaf picture by Jamie Shields (cc-by-sa)
Thuja plicata leaf picture by Annabelle Kerr (cc-by-sa)
Thuja plicata leaf picture by Emily Chow (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Thuja plicata flower picture by kazi kami (cc-by-sa)
Thuja plicata flower picture by jacksun (cc-by-sa)
Thuja plicata flower picture by Avsar Topal (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Thuja plicata fruit picture by Martin Bishop (cc-by-sa)
Thuja plicata fruit picture by @herbert (cc-by-sa)
Thuja plicata fruit picture by noel mendoza (cc-by-sa)

Distribution

Thuja plicata world distribution map, present in Brazil, Canada, China, France, and United States of America

Conservation status

Thuja plicata threat status: Least Concern

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60443333-2
WFO ID wfo-0000407856
COL ID 56NTV
BDTFX ID 68033
INPN ID 126451
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR) Link

Synonyms

Thuja flabellata Thuja lycopodioides Thuja californica Thuja wareana Thuja plicatilis Libocedrus craigiana Libocedrus gigantea Thuja douglasii Thuja menziesii Thuja lobbii Thuja lobbiana Thuja asplenifolia Thuja gigantea Thuja plicata f. atrovirens Thuja plicata f. fastigiata Thuja plicata f. pendula Thuja occidentalis var. plicata Thuja gigantea var. atrovirens Thuja menziesii var. fastigiata Thuja gigantea var. pendula Thuja plicata