# Alaska yellow cedar (*Callitropsis nootkatensis*) The Alaska yellow cedar is a special tree that grows in cool, wet places. It has beautiful yellowish wood and can live for a very long time, making it a treasure in nature! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Alaska yellow cedar](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cupressus_nootkatensis_1334.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cupressus_nootkatensis_1334.JPG) ## Appearance The Alaska yellow cedar has distinctive flat, drooping branches covered in scale-like, yellow-green leaves, giving it a soft, weeping appearance. Its shaggy, grayish-brown bark peels away in long, thin strips. This evergreen often stands tall and narrow. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Cupressaceae - **Genus:** Xanthocyparis ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, it's not a true cedar, but a cypress relative! - Its fragrant wood is highly valued for making kayaks, musical instruments, and fine carvings. - Some Alaska yellow cedars have lived for over 1,800 years, making them ancient giants! - The unique "weeping" branch tips help scientists tell it apart from other conifers. ## Special abilities - **Super Wood Shield:** Alaska yellow cedar has incredibly rot-resistant wood that helps it stay strong for hundreds of years, even when wet. - **Ice Age Survivor:** Alaska yellow cedar can thrive in very cold, wet, and high-altitude places, helping it survive harsh winter conditions. - **Weeping Wisdom:** Its drooping branchlets shed heavy snow easily, which helps the tree prevent breakage in snowy, mountainous habitats. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 2000-3500 cm - **Spread:** 300-600 cm - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Black-tailed deer (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on young foliage and shoots. - **Eats:** [Red squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-squirrel) (*Tamiasciurus hudsonicus*) — Feeds on seeds from mature cones. - **Shelter:** [Steller's Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stellers-jay) (*Cyanocitta stelleri*) — Nests and finds refuge among dense branches. ## Traits - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Temperate Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/temperate-rainforest): This habitat trait identifies species found in temperate rainforests, characterized by significant rainfall, mild temperatures, and dense evergreen or deciduous forests in coastal regions. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths and don't climb trees without an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Alaska yellow cedar? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Alaska yellow cedar? 2000-3500 cm ### How wide does Alaska yellow cedar spread? 300-600 cm ### Is Alaska yellow cedar edible? No ### Is Alaska yellow cedar toxic? None ### What is Alaska yellow cedar's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Alaska yellow cedar pollinated? Wind ### Where is Alaska yellow cedar usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Cypress Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cypress-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Alaska yellow cedar: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/alaska-yellow-cedar)