January’s Tree of the Month: Western Redcedar

Western redcedars (Thuja plicata) are magnificent specimens well-deserving of their other name, arbor vitae “Tree of Life”. Western redcedars not only live a long time, they’ve sustained native peoples for thousands of years and still provide for all of us today.

Not a true cedar (cedars are in the pine family). Western redcedar is actually in the cypress family. This remarkable tree can grow 8-23ft in diameter and between 150 and 230 ft tall.  Not only is it big, it’s long-lived with many trees dated at 1500 years!

Western redcedar grows most successfully in its historic ranges along the coast where conditions are optimal: moisture, higher soil pH, lack of fire. Yet the tree does manage to live up to timberline and tolerates a variety of soils.

It is considered a sacred tree and symbol of power by Salish peoples, used as a place for ceremonies, retreat and contemplation. The bark, wood and leaves of the redcedar were employed in all aspects of daily living by NW native tribes.

Climate change is rough on Western redcedar. Younger trees are having a harder time of it and are susceptible to decay and insects. They are not designed to tolerate hotter and drier conditions because they are unable to slow water loss. (Without water, tree tissue doesn’t grow. Less tissue growth means less ability to collect moisture and translocate it through the tree.) However, Western redcedars continue growing upwards despite top dieback. Sometimes they are called candelabras because of the multiple tops.  Fallen western red cedars become nurse logs for other plant species.

The story of western redcedar is rich – please take a look at this video put out by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe for a deeper look at this remarkable tree.

Want to know more? Go here: https://owlcation.com/stem/Interesting-Facts-About-Western-Red-Cedar-in-Nature-and-Culture