Description

This magnificent tree is native to the far northwestern corner of California where it thrives in cool and moist conditions. From there its range extends into British Columbia. It also grows in the Rockies of Canada and the US. The trunk is straight with furrowed bark of mahogany to gray. The small scale-like leaves are arranged oppositely on branching stems. The branches are drooping with upturned tips. Taken together, the fine leaves and branching stems lend a soft appearance to the tree. Western red cedar will require supplemental irrigation when grown in drier areas, and will suffer if grown too far from the coast. In the SF Bay Area, climate zones 15, 16, and 17 seem to have enough coastal effect for the red cedar to thrive.