northern white cedar

(Thuja occidentalis)

Conservation Status
northern white cedar
Photo by Randy
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

     
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
Wetland Indicator Status
     
  Great Plains

FACW - Facultative wetland

     
  Midwest

FACW - Facultative wetland

     
  Northcentral & Northeast

FACW - Facultative wetland

     
           
 
Description
 
 

 

 
     
 

Height

 
 

25 to 50

 
     
 

Record

 
 

The champion northern white cedar in Minnesota is on tribal property near Nett Lake, in Koochiching County. In 2018 it was measured at 74 tall and 186 in circumference (59 in diameter), with a crown spread of 40.

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Peat swamps, upland forests, lake shores, cliffs. Shade tolerant.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Pollination

 
 

Late-April to mid-May

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 
Use
 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 24, 28, 29, 30.

 
  5/23/2023      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common in Minnesota

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Pinopsida (conifers)  
  Subclass Pinidae  
 

Order

Pinales (conifers)  
 

Family

Cupressaceae (cypress)  
 

Subfamily

Cupressoideae (cypresses, cedars, junipers, and allies)  
 

Genus

Thuja (whitecedars)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Thuja occidentalis var. fastigiata

Thuja occidentalis f. malonyana

Thuja occidentalis var. nigra

Thuja occidentalis var. pyramidalis

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

American arborvitae

arborvitae

eastern arborvitae

eastern white cedar

northern white cedar

northern white-cedar

swamp cedar

white-cedar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Martin Schrattenholzer

 
    northern white cedar   northern white cedar  
           
    northern white cedar   northern white cedar  
 

Randy

 
 

Views of Northern White Cedar, Thuja occidentalis, April 2020, Freeborn County, Minnesota.

 
    northern white cedar   northern white cedar  
           
    northern white cedar   northern white cedar  
           
    northern white cedar   northern white cedar  
 

Alfredo Colon

 
    northern white cedar      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Tree

 
    northern white cedar      
           
 

Branchlets

 
    northern white cedar   northern white cedar  
           
    northern white cedar      
           
 

Leaves

 
    northern white cedar   northern white cedar  

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Trees with Don Leopold - northern white-cedar
ESFTV
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Oct 10, 2011

No description available.

   
  How to ID Thuja occidentalis
Laura Deeter
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Nov 22, 2008

short video showing the key identifying characteristics for Thuja occidentalis

   
  The Northern White Cedar by Steven McNamara
TheCampusTrees
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 17, 2013

No description available.

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this plant.

 
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  Martin Schrattenholzer
9/14/2020

Location: middle campsite on Ahsub Lake, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

northern white cedar  
  Randy
April 2020

Location: Freeborn County, Minnesota

northern white cedar  
  Alfredo Colon
8/9/2019

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

northern white cedar  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars

 

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