Pen #21
Wood Information
Western Red Cedar;  Thuja plicata;  Family: Cupressaceae  
The genus Thuja contains about 6 species world-wide native to North America [2] and Asia [4]. The
word thuja comes from the Greek thuia, an aromatic wood (probably a juniper). The word plicata is
derived from plicate (folded into plaits) most likely from the flat, folded appearance of the scale-like
leaves.
Common Names: Arborvitae, British Colombia red cedar, British Columbia cedar, California cedar,
canoe cedar, giant arbor, giant arborvitae, giant cedar, giant thuja, gigantic cedar, gigantic red cedar,
grand arbre de vie, Idaho cedar, jatte-tuja, Lobb's arborvitae, northwestern red cedar, Oregon cedar,
pacific arbor, Pacific arborvitae, Pacific red cedar, red cedar, red cedar of the west, red cedar pine,
reuzen-thuja, reuzenthuja, shinglewood, thuja geant, thuya de Lobb, thuya geant, thuya oriental, tuia
gigantesca, Washington cedar, Washington red cedar, western cedar, western redcedar.
Distribution: Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) grows in the Pacific Northwest and along the Pacific
coast to Alaska. Western red cedar lumber is produced principally in Washington, Oregon, Idaho,
Montana and British Columbia. The tree has been planted in Great Britain and New Zealand.
Tree: Western red cedar trees reach heights of 200 feet with diameters of 16 feet. The trunk of older
trees is buttressed, fluted and quite tapered.
Wood Characteristics: The heartwood of western red cedar is reddish or pinkish brown to dull
brown and the sapwood nearly white. The sapwood is narrow, often not over 1 inch in width. The
wood is generally straight grained and has a uniform but rather coarse texture. This species is light
in weight, moderately soft, low in strength when used as a beam or posts, and low in shock
resistance. Its heartwood very resistant to decay.
Durability: Western red cedar is rated as resistant to very resistant to heartwood decay. It is not
immune to attack by termites and furniture beetles.
Uses: Western red cedar is used principally for shingles, lumber, poles, posts, and piles. The
lumber is used for exterior siding, interior finish, greenhouse construction, ship and boat building,
boxes and crates, sash, doors, and millwork.
Harding Pens and Woodturnings