Northern White Cedar

The Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis), also commonly known as Arbor Vitae (“Tree of Life”), is a member of the Cupressaceae family – the cypresses.  It is not a cedar at all.

It is a very common tree.  It is often found in swamps and on cliffs – tending to grow in areas where there is little competition from other trees.  It is a slow growing and resilient tree and can be very long lived.

The leaves of the Northern White Cedar consist of scale-like plates.  Its cones are small and open.  The bark is reddish brown in color and separates into long, shred-like strips.