Invasive Species Compendium

Detailed coverage of invasive species threatening livelihoods and the environment worldwide

Datasheet

Thuja occidentalis
(Eastern white cedar)

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Datasheet

Thuja occidentalis (Eastern white cedar)

Index

Summary

  • Last modified
  • 22 November 2019
  • Datasheet Type(s)
  • Host Plant
  • Preferred Scientific Name
  • Thuja occidentalis
  • Preferred Common Name
  • Eastern white cedar
  • Taxonomic Tree
  • Domain: Eukaryota
  •   Kingdom: Plantae
  •     Phylum: Spermatophyta
  •       Subphylum: Gymnospermae
  •         Class: Pinopsida
  • Uses List
  • Agroforestry
  • Boundary, barrier or support
  • Revegetation
  • Shade and shelter
  • Windbreak

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Pictures

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PictureTitleCaptionCopyright
Natural stand of T. occidentalis near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Such natural stands of open grown trees have branches extending to the ground
TitleNatural stand
CaptionNatural stand of T. occidentalis near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Such natural stands of open grown trees have branches extending to the ground
CopyrightDouglas Larson
Natural stand of T. occidentalis near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Such natural stands of open grown trees have branches extending to the ground
Natural standNatural stand of T. occidentalis near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Such natural stands of open grown trees have branches extending to the groundDouglas Larson
A 6-m tall open-grown T. occidentalis tree, showing retention of foliage and branches giving the plant a pyramidal appearance.
TitleIndividual tree
CaptionA 6-m tall open-grown T. occidentalis tree, showing retention of foliage and branches giving the plant a pyramidal appearance.
CopyrightDouglas Larson
A 6-m tall open-grown T. occidentalis tree, showing retention of foliage and branches giving the plant a pyramidal appearance.
Individual treeA 6-m tall open-grown T. occidentalis tree, showing retention of foliage and branches giving the plant a pyramidal appearance.Douglas Larson
Inverted ancient tree growing on a cliff. Each terminal branch re-asserts growth towards the sun, but rockfall continually undercuts the roots and produces inverted axes.
TitleInverted ancient T. occidentalis
CaptionInverted ancient tree growing on a cliff. Each terminal branch re-asserts growth towards the sun, but rockfall continually undercuts the roots and produces inverted axes.
CopyrightDouglas Larson
Inverted ancient tree growing on a cliff. Each terminal branch re-asserts growth towards the sun, but rockfall continually undercuts the roots and produces inverted axes.
Inverted ancient T. occidentalisInverted ancient tree growing on a cliff. Each terminal branch re-asserts growth towards the sun, but rockfall continually undercuts the roots and produces inverted axes.Douglas Larson
Juvenile leaves occur in whorls of 4 around the axis of the sapling, while mature scale leaves emerge from lateral meristems.
TitleJuvenile and mature leaves
CaptionJuvenile leaves occur in whorls of 4 around the axis of the sapling, while mature scale leaves emerge from lateral meristems.
CopyrightDouglas Larson
Juvenile leaves occur in whorls of 4 around the axis of the sapling, while mature scale leaves emerge from lateral meristems.
Juvenile and mature leavesJuvenile leaves occur in whorls of 4 around the axis of the sapling, while mature scale leaves emerge from lateral meristems.Douglas Larson
Mature leaves are scale like, and measure 3-6 mm across and 0.5 mm in thickness.
TitleMature leaves
CaptionMature leaves are scale like, and measure 3-6 mm across and 0.5 mm in thickness.
CopyrightDouglas Larson
Mature leaves are scale like, and measure 3-6 mm across and 0.5 mm in thickness.
Mature leavesMature leaves are scale like, and measure 3-6 mm across and 0.5 mm in thickness.Douglas Larson
Female cones are produced at the tips of branches.
TitleFemale cones
CaptionFemale cones are produced at the tips of branches.
CopyrightDouglas Larson
Female cones are produced at the tips of branches.
Female conesFemale cones are produced at the tips of branches.Douglas Larson
Cambial mortality causes stem-strip axial morphology. In cross section as shown in this 935 year old tree, the stem strip growth produces a very small amount of sapwood and grossly asymmetric stem with pith nowhere near the tree centre. Scale bar = 1.0 cm.
TitleCambial mortality
CaptionCambial mortality causes stem-strip axial morphology. In cross section as shown in this 935 year old tree, the stem strip growth produces a very small amount of sapwood and grossly asymmetric stem with pith nowhere near the tree centre. Scale bar = 1.0 cm.
CopyrightDouglas Larson
Cambial mortality causes stem-strip axial morphology. In cross section as shown in this 935 year old tree, the stem strip growth produces a very small amount of sapwood and grossly asymmetric stem with pith nowhere near the tree centre. Scale bar = 1.0 cm.
Cambial mortalityCambial mortality causes stem-strip axial morphology. In cross section as shown in this 935 year old tree, the stem strip growth produces a very small amount of sapwood and grossly asymmetric stem with pith nowhere near the tree centre. Scale bar = 1.0 cm.Douglas Larson

Identity

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Preferred Scientific Name

  • Thuja occidentalis L.

Preferred Common Name

  • Eastern white cedar

Variety

  • Thuja occidentalis f. buchananii (Spath) Rehder
  • Thuja occidentalis f. cristata (Carriere) C. K. Schneid.
  • Thuja occidentalis f. filiformis (Beissner) Rehder
  • Thuja occidentalis f. lutescens (Beissner) C. K. Schnied.
  • Thuja occidentalis f. pendula (Gordon) Beissner

Other Scientific Names

  • Thuja occidentalis f. fastigiata (H. Jaeger) Beissner
  • Thuja occidentalis f. malonyana C. K. Schneid.
  • Thuja occidentalis var. fastigiata (H. Jaeger) Beissner
  • Thuja occidentalis var. globosa
  • Thuja occidentalis var. nigra L. H. Bailey
  • Thuja occidentalis var. pumila
  • Thuja occidentalis var. pyramidalis Zederb.

International Common Names

  • English: American arborvitae; Eastern arborvitae; Eastern thuja; Northern white cedar
  • Spanish: cedro blanco del este; thuja; tuya
  • French: cedre blanc; les thuja; thuya du Canada; Thuya occidental
  • Russian: tuja zapadnaya

Local Common Names

  • Germany: Abendlaendischer Lebensbaum; Amerikanischer Lebensbaum; Lebensbaum
  • Italy: thuja; Tuia occidentale
  • Netherlands: westerse levensboom
  • Sweden: vanlig tuja
  • USA: arborvitae; white cedar

EPPO code

  • THUOC (Thuja occidentalis)

Trade name

  • swamp cedar
  • white cedar

Taxonomic Tree

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  • Domain: Eukaryota
  •     Kingdom: Plantae
  •         Phylum: Spermatophyta
  •             Subphylum: Gymnospermae
  •                 Class: Pinopsida
  •                     Family: Cupressaceae
  •                         Genus: Thuja
  •                             Species: Thuja occidentalis

Uses List

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Environmental

  • Agroforestry
  • Boundary, barrier or support
  • Revegetation
  • Shade and shelter
  • Windbreak

General

  • Ornamental

Materials

  • Carved material
  • Essential oils
  • Miscellaneous materials
  • Wood/timber

Medicinal, pharmaceutical

  • Source of medicine/pharmaceutical
  • Traditional/folklore

Wood Products

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Boats

Roundwood

  • Building poles
  • Piles
  • Posts
  • Stakes
  • Transmission poles

Sawn or hewn building timbers

  • Exterior fittings
  • Fences
  • For light construction
  • Gates
  • Shingles
  • Wall panelling

Wood extractives (including oil)

Wood-based materials

  • Particleboard
  • Waferboard

Woodware

  • Musical instruments
  • Pencils
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