Blog  January 16, 2012

Eastern white cedar: a tall treasure

Eastern white cedar from a distance and close-up (Photo: Bill Moses)

From the Atlantic through to Manitoba, Thuja occidentalis is a common sight, especially in cool, moist, nutrient-rich marsh and woodland sites.

An evergreen tree averaging 12 metres tall, this member of the redwood family is important for people and animals alike. It’s used by snowshoe hares, porcupines, red squirrels, birds and insects, providing valuable habitat, especially in harsh winters.

It’s also valuable as a decay-resistant timber for canoes, posts and more. In the 16th century, French explorer Jacques Cartier dubbed the cedar “arborvitae,” meaning tree of life, after learning from Canada’s First Nations how to use the foliage to treat scurvy (vitamin C deficiency).

Learn more about eastern white cedar and other native trees on our Native Plant Database.