Wasowski, Sally and Andy
Thuja occidentalis L.
Arborvitae, Eastern arborvitae, Northern white cedar
Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)
In a crowded environment, this
tree is slender and not well-branched. In the open, it improves in form and density. The
evergreen can be single- or multi-trunked and columnar or conical in shape. Eastern arborvitae can grow 40-60 ft. tall, but under cultivation will probably be no taller than 30 ft. Branches end in flat, spreading, horizontal sprays of fragrant, dark-green foliage which turns yellow-green or slight brown in winter. Resinous and aromatic
evergreen tree with angled, buttressed, often branched trunk and a narrow, conical crown of short, spreading branches.
Probably the first North American
tree introduced into Europe, it was discovered by French explorers and grown in Paris about 1536. The year before, tea prepared from the foliage and
bark, now known to be high in vitamin C, saved the crew of Jacques Cartier from scurvy. It was named
arborvitae, Latin for tree-of-life, in 1558. The trees grow slowly and reach an age of 400 years or more. The lightweight, easily split wood was preferred for canoe frames by
Native Americans, who also used the shredded outer
bark and the soft wood to start fires. Today, the wood is used principally for poles, cross-ties, posts, and lumber. Cedar oil for medicine is distilled from the twigs.
Image Gallery:
2 photo(s) available
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Tree Leaf: Green
Fruit: Red, Brown
Size Class: 72-100 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Apr
Distribution
USA: CT , IL , IN , IA , KY , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , NH , NJ , NY , NC , OH , PA , RI , TN , VT , VA , WV , WI
Canada: MB ,
NB ,
NL ,
NS ,
ON ,
PE ,
QC Native Distribution: E. Que. to s.e. Man., s. to NJ, MI, n. WI & n. MN; scattered in s. Appalacians; adventive in s.w. New England
Native Habitat: Swampy areas; lake margins; open, rocky hillsides
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Dry
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Moist, well-drained alkaline soils.
Conditions Comments: Arbor vitae can be used as a specimen or as a hedge. Plants are susceptible to strong wind, snow, and ice damage, and young plants need protection from winter browsers. The species tolerates air pollution and heat as long as it is rooted in cool, moist soil. The highly aromatic plant provides food and cover for birds.
Benefit
Use Wildlife: Food and cover for birds.
Use Food: First Nations people used eastern white-cedar to prevent scurvy and taught this practice to French settlers, giving rise to the name arborvitae, or ree of life. The Arbor-vitae
sap contains vitamin C. (Kershaw)
Use Other: First Nations of the north used it for frames for their canoes. (Peattie)
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
2008-05-22
