Thuja occidentalis
Arborvitae · also Northern white-cedar, Eastern white-cedar, American arborvitae
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Thuja occidentalis, also known as northern white-cedar or arborvitae, is an evergreen coniferous tree with a spire-like habit. It is native to eastern Canada and the northeastern and north-central United States, providing food and habitat for various wildlife. This tree tolerates heat, air pollution, and a range of soil types, but requires ample moisture.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 6,3860.93%—5.9 in
- 4,7651.5%—6.7 in
- 2,5580.94%—5.9 in
- 1,8870.56%7.0 yr3.9 in
- 1,7842.4%—6.3 in
- 1,0340.34%—3.0 in
- 9850.32%—7.9 in
- 7250.98%—1.6 in
- 6881.5%—5.1 in
- 4770.09%—4.3 in
- 4660.06%—4.0 in
- 4250.51%—6.1 in
- 4200.18%—3.9 in
- 3320.18%—10 in
- 3170.27%5.0 yr4.5 in
- 2970.19%9.5 yr5.5 in
- 2792.3%—23 in
- 2060.04%35 yr7.5 in
- 1640.22%—5.9 in
- 1410.10%—4.0 in
- 1380.04%—5.1 in
- 1310.07%—5.0 in
- 1240.35%—6.7 in
- 1160.04%32 yr5.9 in
- 1140.26%—5.9 in
- 730.01%—4.7 in
- 660.03%—2.5 in
- 540.01%23 yr8.6 in
- 540.46%—3.9 in
- 290.18%—9.3 in
- 280.06%9.8 yr3.5 in
- 160.00%—2.9 in
- 50.01%——
- 40.00%—1.9 in
- 10.00%—2.0 in
Traits
- Form
- Conifer
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Mature height
- 30–60 ft
- Canopy spread
- 10–15 ft
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Water needs
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- Low
- Pollution tolerance
- High
- Wildlife value
- High
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 5.9 in, mean 7.2 in, 90th percentile 14 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests
- Eastern Canadian Forest-Boreal transition
- New England-Acadian forests
Other Thuja in the catalogue
4 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
