# northern whitecedar (*Thuja occidentalis*) The northern white cedar is a tall tree with soft, green leaves that look like tiny scales. It grows in forests and is great for making furniture and canoes! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Forests ![northern whitecedar](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2013-11-06_Lac_Canards_DDumais_%2821%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Daniel Dumais, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2013-11-06_Lac_Canards_DDumais_%2821%29.jpg) ## Appearance The northern whitecedar has dense, flattened, scale-like leaves that form fan-like sprays, maintaining a vibrant green color year-round. Its bark is reddish-brown and peels off in narrow, shreddy strips. It typically grows into a narrow, conical shape, making it visually distinct from many other evergreens. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Cupressaceae - **Genus:** Thuja ## Interesting facts - Indigenous peoples called it 'arborvitae,' meaning 'tree of life,' for its many gifts! - Its unique flattened needles look and feel more like soft scales than prickly needles! - Some northern whitecedars have lived for over 1,000 years, older than many pyramids! - This tree's wood has a wonderful scent that naturally repels moths from clothes! ## Special abilities - **Snow Shield:** Northern whitecedar's dense, scale-like foliage holds heavy snow, helping it stay warm and protected during harsh winter cold. - **Super Wood:** Northern whitecedar's wood contains natural chemicals that make it highly resistant to rot and insects, helping it last longer. - **Vitamin C Source:** Northern whitecedar young shoots are packed with Vitamin C, which helped early explorers survive scurvy. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1200-1800 cm - **Spread:** 300-600 cm - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses its foliage, especially in winter. - **Shelter:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Nests in its dense branches for protection. - **Eaten by:** Arborvitae Leafminer (*Coleotechnites thujaella*) — Larvae tunnel and feed inside its scale-like leaves. ## Traits - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [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. - [Coniferous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coniferous): Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring forests and don't climb trees without an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify northern whitecedar? 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 northern whitecedar? 1200-1800 cm ### How wide does northern whitecedar spread? 300-600 cm ### Is northern whitecedar edible? No ### Is northern whitecedar toxic? Mild ### What is northern whitecedar's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is northern whitecedar pollinated? Wind ### Where is northern whitecedar usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Carriage Paths, Bridges and Gatehouses](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carriage-paths-bridges-and-gatehouses) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Devil's Kitchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/devils-kitchen) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Glen Haven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-haven) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Alfred Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alfred-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Barre Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barre-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Camp Edwin F. Glenn](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-edwin-f-glenn) — Indiana, US · Historic Site [View all places to see northern whitecedar](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-whitecedar) ## 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: [Northern Whitecedar: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-whitecedar)