# Chinese arborvitae (*Platycladus orientalis*)

The Chinese arborvitae is a tall, evergreen tree that stays green all year round! It has soft, flat leaves and can grow very tall, making it a great tree for parks and gardens.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Urban areas

![Chinese arborvitae](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Platycladus_orientalis_Simatai.jpg&width=800)

Photo: yeowatzup at Flickr, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Platycladus_orientalis_Simatai.jpg)

## Appearance

The Chinese arborvitae has distinctive flattened sprays of bright green, scale-like leaves that often turn bronze in winter. Its bark is reddish-brown, peeling in strips, and the tree typically grows into an elegant, dense pyramidal or conical shape.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Pinopsida
- **Order:** Pinales
- **Family:** Cupressaceae
- **Genus:** Platycladus

## Interesting facts

- Chinese arborvitae wood is so durable, it was once used to build sturdy bridges.
- Its tiny cones look like wooden roses when they open to release seeds!
- Rubbing its leaves can release a surprising, pleasant, resinous scent!
- This amazing tree has been planted in ancient Chinese temples for thousands of years.

## Special abilities

- **Air Pollution Fighter:** Chinese arborvitae can withstand dirty city air, helping them thrive where other trees struggle to grow.
- **Drought Dodger:** Its special scale-like leaves help Chinese arborvitae save water, keeping it green even when dry.
- **Year-Round Green:** This tree keeps its green foliage all winter long, providing color when other plants are bare.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 500-2000 cm
- **Spread:** 200-800 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Early spring (pollen cones)
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Tree Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-tree-sparrow) (*Passer montanus*) — Feeds on the tree's small, nutritious seeds
- **Eats:** Arborvitae Aphid (*Cinara tujafilina*) — Sucks sap from the tree's new growth
- **Shelter:** [Long-tailed Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/long-tailed-tit) (*Aegithalos caudatus*) — Builds nests in its dense, protective foliage

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [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.
- [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.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always stay on paths when exploring near trees and be careful not to climb too high.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Chinese arborvitae?

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 Chinese arborvitae?

500-2000 cm

### How wide does Chinese arborvitae spread?

200-800 cm

### When does Chinese arborvitae bloom?

Early spring (pollen cones)

### Is Chinese arborvitae edible?

No

### Is Chinese arborvitae toxic?

Mild

### What is Chinese arborvitae's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Chinese arborvitae pollinated?

Wind

## Where to spot

- [Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arkansas-alligator-farm-and-petting-zoo) — Arkansas, US · Zoo
- [Olympic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/olympic-park) — KR · 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*)

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Source: [Chinese arborvitae: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chinese-arborvitae)