A large tree with tapering trunk and a narrow, conical crown of short, spreading branches drooping at ends, growing to a height of 30 - 53 m and a diameter of 0.6 - 2.4 m; often larger.

Description

Distinguishing Features - Needles: evergreen; opposite in four rows; 1.5 - 3 mm long; scalelike, sharp-pointed; side pair keeled, flat pair generally without gland-dot; shiny dark green, usually with whitish marks beneath. Bark: reddish-brown, thin, fibrous, and shreddy. Twigs: many-branched in horizontal plane, slightly flattened in fanlike sprays, jointed. Cones: 12 mm long; clustered and upright from short, curved stalk; elliptical, brown; with 10 - 12 paired, thin, leathery, sharp-pointed cone-scales; 6 usually bearing 2 - 3 seeds with 2 wings.

Habitat

Native to southern Alaska southeast through British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains east to Montana; in moist, slightly acid soils; forming widespread forests with Western Hemlock; also with other conifers.

Notes

Because the Western Red Cedar is particularly resistant to rot, it is the chief wood for shingles and one of the most important for siding, utility poles, fenceposts, paneling and outdoor-patio construction. Natives of the Northwest Coast carved their famous totem poles from the trunk.

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