Photo gallery

  • The mature bark of a Thuja plicata Atrovirens
  • Small Thuja plicata Atrovirens
  • Carbon Rating
  • Carbon Rating

Western Red Cedar

Thuja plicata Atrovirens

Tree size guide
£233.00

About this product

The Thuja plicata Atrovirens, also known as the Western Red Cedar, is an important timber tree in its native North America. In the UK, it is more frequently used as a hedging conifer. Introduced in the mid-1870s, it received the Award of Garden Merit in 2002.

This large conifer is suited to most soil types, including normal, chalk, and clay soils. It thrives in full sun to semi-shaded areas and can be planted in inland, exposed, and coastal sites. Unlike most evergreens, it does best on moist to well-drained soil.

Thuja plicata Atrovirens is a popular alternative to Leylandii hedging, as it is slower growing but still provides a dense, evergreen hedge. It is considered fast-growing at 40-60cm per annum and can be cut back into old wood without risk of browning, making it much easier to maintain. This characteristic makes it an excellent choice for a low-maintenance, evergreen screen for privacy.

Its vibrant mid-to dark green foliage is glossier than that of other conifers and highly fragrant. When crushed, it gives off a sweetly aromatic scent often likened to pineapple. Additionally, the leaves are aromatic, and the plant can produce small cones.

Overall, Thuja plicata Atrovirens forms an excellent evergreen screen for privacy, with the added benefits of fragrant foliage and suitability for various planting conditions.

Mature height: 20m+

Specifications

Common names
Western Red Cedar
Height of tree
20m+
Tree type
Evergreen
Soil type
Well drained, Will tolerate most soil types
Shape
Pyramidal
Foliage Colour
Green
Information Flags
Award
Looks good in
Winter
Privacy
Screening from ground level
Location
Garden, Parkland
Genus
Thuja