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Western red cedar/Thuja plicata

By Klahanie

Western red cedar/Thuja plicata (Thuja plicata)

3 Oct, 2014
9 likes

Growing by our guest cottage. I cannot reach the bottom branches. It is a native tree in this region. We have many on our property, most larger than this. Basically, 4 trees are dominating our land (that were not planted) : Douglas fir, Arbutus, Red cedar and Big leaf maple and ...few hemlocks, and some aspens.
The wood from this tree has one important quality. It will not rot and therefore is used for outside projects.

Comments on this photo

Katarina

Yes, it is natve to that region and I have a large book on how it was used as medicine and magic tree by native Americans.

3 Oct, 2014

Klahanie

You are right, very useful tree. I have seedlings everywhere...it must like it here.

4 Oct, 2014

Katarina

Do you use its wood for fires? I never did, but I read it doesn t burn very well.

4 Oct, 2014

Klahanie

Katarina, it burns fine, but very quickly so you would not like to use it in fireplace. It is very soft wood and it repels water so Indians used it for making kayaks.
For burning, the best wood around here is Arbutus. It burns slowly.

4 Oct, 2014

Katarina

I see. We do not have Arbutus in Europe, I guess.

4 Oct, 2014

Klahanie

I believe that there is a European variety (strawberry tree??) but not the Arbutus menziesii which is native here. We have one next to our deck and it is a messy tree. Evergreen, but loosing lots of dead leaves and bark in summer . Visually it is quite beautiful (in winter) with the red and "crooked" trunk and dark green leaves.

4 Oct, 2014

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