#163 WESTERN RED CEDAR
Thuja plicata
Planted: circa 1919
This tree is in the South East Corner
| Distribution: | Native to Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and northern California. |
| Planting Date: 1916 – 1922 | Last remaining specimen from Mr Hammond’s Thuya Walk which ran along the eastern boundary of the American Section. From Mr Hammond’s planting book: ‘Here is hedge of Thuya plicata (sold as Thuya Lobbii by St Barbe Baker, of Southampton), December 1916. Half a dozen of these were planted in (the following) May. Most of those planted in December died off but those planted in May survived. 12 more from Plowman, March 1918. Some 6 or 8 more from Plowman to replace dead ones, January 1919. Four more from Plowman, May 1920. Incorporated in hedge is Cupressus …… planted by Captain Chaplin in situ, in 1912. 7’6 (1916). Also a Thuya plicata, or gigantia, transplanted here January 1919. Also another larger one transplanted here in 1922.‘ Plowman and Son, High Street and Lubenham Hill, Market Harborough, Leicestershire. 7’6 (2.3 m) |
| Growth Habit: | A slender pyramidal tree and unless close planted retains its branches to the ground. |
| Bark: | Reddish-brown and striated in long narrow strips that are often partially lifted. |
| Leaf: | Dark green and scale like 2 to 3 mm long and slightly aromatic when crushed. |
| Flowers: | The tubular flowers are violetish white in the throat with streaks of violet. |
| Fruit: | Cones are egg-shaped 12 mm long, scales about 10 with a small triangular boss just below the apex. |
| Toxicity: | Mildly toxic so best avoided near livestock. |
| Potential tree size: | Up to 60m in the wild. |
| Uses: | The indigenous peoples of N America used the bark for clothing and shelter, the wood for tools and canoes. It also figured widely in spiritual healing and mythology. Widely used in modern construction. |
| Plant Hunter: | George Don (1798 – 1856) a Scottish botanist and plant collector. |
| Introduction Date: | 1824 |
| Anecdotes and Comments: | Often confused with Thuya gigantia and Thuta Lobbii which were both introduced later. Cedars were called ‘the tree of life’ by the north west indigenous peoples of N America. |