Eastern white cedar

Profile

Family

Cupressaceae

Habit

Tree

Height

17.5 m

Spread

5 m

Growth

very slow

Lifespan

500 years

First yield

after 6 years

Hardiness

zone 3–8

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

semi-dry – very wet

pH

6 – 8

Synonyms

Thuja

Planned in gardens

11×

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: The tender part of new shoots is cooked and can be included in soups, offering a mildly sweet taste, commonly serving as a soup base. The inner bark is reserved for emergencies or shortages, dried and powdered for making bread, biscuits, and various dishes. Leafy branches serve as a tea alternative, providing a fragrant taste and a rich vitamin C content. Pregnant women might consider avoiding this tea.

Medicinal: The American arborvitae was traditionally used by various Native North American tribes for medicinal purposes, treating conditions like fever, cough, headaches, swollen hands, and rheumatic issues. It is known for its antiviral properties and is commonly employed in the treatment of warts and polyps, both internally and externally. Pregnant women are advised against consuming the plant due to its potential to induce menstruation. The freshly dried young branches of the American arborvitae offer several health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic, and diaphoretic properties. It has historical applications in cancer treatment, particularly uterine cancer. A tea brewed from the leaves is utilized to alleviate bronchitis, respiratory problems, colds, and headaches. The plant's diuretic qualities also make it effective in managing acute cystitis and childhood bedwetting. Externally, the leaves of the American arborvitae can be used as a wash for swollen feet and burns. Leaf extracts serve as a counter-irritant for sore joints or muscles, enhancing local blood circulation and alleviating pain. A tea derived from the inner bark is employed to stimulate menstruation and address consumption and coughs. Essential oil extracted from the American arborvitae leaves possesses antiseptic, expectorant, and reddening properties. However, caution is advised as the oil is toxic and can cause cramps in high doses, necessitating supervision by a qualified physician. A homeopathic remedy made from the leaves and twigs is available for treating conditions like warts and others.

Other uses: The bay hedge can be pruned regularly, but avoid cutting into the old wood. It serves well as a hedge, and the fresh branches are suitable for making brooms. The plant's aromatic fragrance helps freshen the house when used for sweeping. Historically, the leaves were utilized for perfume, incense, and repelling insects, as well as for making incense. An essential oil derived from the leaves and branches is valuable in perfumery and medicine, but it is toxic if consumed. Additionally, it possesses insect-repelling qualities. The sturdy bark was formerly employed in crafting fiber sacks and as a tannin source. Bay wood is lightweight, soft, not very strong, brittle, coarse-grained, and highly durable. It is easily manageable and resistant to warping.

Growing

Thrives in consistently moist soil and struggles in dry conditions, particularly suitable for poorly drained areas. Flourishes in heavy clay, sandy, and limestone soils. A resilient tree that can withstand extremely cold winters reaching temperatures as low as -46°C. During cold seasons, the leaves brown but revive in spring. While typically slow-growing and short-lived when cultivated, some exceptional specimens exist in the western regions. Certain varieties, such as 'Lutea' and 'Spiralis,' exhibit robust growth. In their natural habitat, these trees can live for 200-300 years. Occasionally used as a timber tree in Central Europe. Regeneration from old wood is not possible, and pruning is generally unnecessary. If pruning is required, it should be approached cautiously. Both the wood and leaves emit a potent apple-like fragrance when crushed.

Propagation

Seeds should be sown in a cool environment during autumn when they are mature. For stored seeds, a brief cold treatment enhances germination. These can be planted in a cool environment in late winter. Once the seedlings reach a suitable size, transfer them to individual pots and nurture them in a greenhouse during their initial winter. Later, in late spring or early summer, after the final frosts, relocate them to their permanent position. Alternatively, if cultivating a large number of plants, sow the seeds in an outdoor seedbed in spring. Let the plants grow for two years before moving them to their permanent spot in late autumn or early spring. For cuttings from semi-ripe shoots, 5-8 cm in length with a heel, take them in July/August within a shaded frame. These cuttings will develop roots by September and should be sheltered in a frame over the winter. Cuttings from almost mature shoots, 5-10 cm long with a heel, should be obtained in September in a cool environment. These cuttings will root the following summer and can be transplanted in autumn or spring.

Notable

Special features: opaque and very tolerant of pruning, except into old wood; smoked to retrieve soul fragments/cleanse foreign energies; the name tree of life comes from sailors who used it to cure their scurvy; large selection of varieties: (small: 'Smaragd' & 'Rheingold' 4m tall, fast: 'Brabant' up to 20m tall, as a hedge untrimmed up to 8m tall);

Origin & habitat

Eastern North America - Nova Scotia to Georgia, extending westward to Illinois and Minnesota.

Chalk hills in southern England, but only where there is least sunshine and most rain, heaths, bogs, pine and birch woods in northern Scotland on acid peat, often dominant on chalk, limestone and slate.

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