Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Cupressus nootkatensis D. Don

Alaska cedar, Alaska-cedar, Nootka cedar, Yellow cedar

Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)

USDA Symbol: CUNO

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Tree with narrow crown and horizontal or slightly drooping branches. Usually a medium-sized tree of 80 ft., Alaska-cedar ranges in height from 15-150 ft., depending mostly on elevation. Mature trees have a narrow profile, stringy white bark, a buttressed trunk and weeping branches. The evergreen foliage, in flat, drooping sprays, is a dull, dark green.

The durable wood has a pleasant, resinous odor; it is used for furniture, interior finish, and boats. Northwest Coast Indians made canoe paddles from the wood and carved ceremonial masks from the trunks.

 

From the Image Gallery

No images of this plant

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Size Class: 72-100 ft.
Leaf Color: Green
Fruit Color: Brown

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: Coastal s.e. AK, s., at increasing elevations, to Siskiyou Co., CA
Native Habitat: Moist, sea level areas in the north to timberline areas in the south
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: None
Soil Description: Coarse, moist soil.
Conditions Comments: Chamaecyparis nootkatensis is slow-growing and useful in urban settings.

Propagation

Description: Propagation is by seeds or cuttings. Seed germination is not high.
Seed Collection: Cones mature in Sept. and Oct. at the end of the first growing season. Each cone scale bears from 1-5 winged seeds.
Seed Treatment: Warm-moist stratify for 30 days then stratify 30 more days at 40 degrees. A cool-moist stratification alone may improve germination also.
Commercially Avail: yes
Please support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cupressus nootkatensis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cupressus nootkatensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cupressus nootkatensis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back