Meet the Cedars

Steve Blight | Dec 06, 2012

Outdoors in the Land O'Lakes - December 6, 2012

By Steve Blight

In our area there are two tree species that are generally known as cedars – Eastern White-cedar, and Eastern Redcedar. These two members of the Cypress Family have one interesting thing in common – neither of them are actually cedars! True cedars, like the well-known cedars of Lebanon, are members of the Pine family and none are native to North America. Our “cedars” likely picked up their names from Europeans who often named unfamiliar plants and animals after similar species from their home countries.

Eastern White-cedar (Thuja occidentalis) goes by several other less commonly used names – northern white-cedar, arborvitae, or eastern thuja. The name arborvitae is interesting – it means "tree of life" and dates from the 16th century when the French explorer Jacques Cartier learned from aboriginal people how to brew a tea from the tree's foliage to treat scurvy, a serious disease caused by a vitamin C deficiency.

Eastern White-cedars have so many uses. The rot-resistant sapwood is used for fences, posts, shakes and shingles, outdoor projects and cedar strip canoes. However, the heartwood of living trees is subject to heart-rot; consequently many large diameter cedars have hollow trunks – great for wildlife, but not so great for making 2 by 4s! They are valuable landscape trees and make excellent hedges. The foliage is a favourite food for deer and winter deer “yards” are often found near groves of cedars.

Eastern White-cedars are slow growing, medium sized trees that can live several hundred years. Small stunted cedars have been found growing on limestone cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment that are over 700 years old; even older stunted trees have been found in northern Quebec. In our region Eastern White-cedars generally grow best on limestone-derived soils that are neutral or slightly alkaline and moist but well drained. Nevertheless, they are found in many different environments – swampy areas and sphagnum bogs, even in very shallow dry soils over bedrock.

Eastern Redcedar is actually a juniper – its Latin name is Juniperus virginiana. This species is often found in abundance in pastures and abandoned fields. It is particularly plentiful in the Napanee area and Prince Edward County where it seems quite happy growing in thin soils over limestone bedrock. However it is also found here and there throughout our area, becoming increasingly scarce the further north one goes. It is one of the few trees that can survive the harsh conditions of south facing rock outcrops with scattered pockets of thin soil. Foley Mountain overlooking Westport is one place to find them growing in profusion.

The wood of junipers is strongly aromatic and resistant to decay. The heartwood is bright purplish red and the sapwood nearly white. Juniper wood is favoured for lining chests and wardrobe closets because its odour is pleasant and reputed to repel moths. Juniper wood is also used in the manufacturing of pencils.

Redcedars are conifers; hence their seeds are borne in cones. However, the cones are unique – when mature, they become fleshy and berry-like. Most people would hardly recognize them as being cones at all. They are dark blue with a powdery coating and a strong fragrance. Juniper “berries” are used to flavour gin and are a good supply of winter food for birds. Stands of redcedars are excellent places to look for flocks of waxwings, especially in winter – both Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings seem to relish the berries and these birds play a key role in spreading their seeds.

They may not be true cedars – but the Eastern White-cedar and Eastern Redcedar are certainly welcome components of our local forests and fields. I think I’ll take a pass on cedar tea though.

Please feel free to report any observations to Lorraine Julien at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or Steve Blight at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.