Chamaecyparis thyoides – Atlantic White Cedar

General Information: A historically important tree to the US East Coast. Atlantic White Cedar is an obligate wetland species and a keystone of the Cedar Swamp ecosystem. These swamps are characterized by depressions filled with water and mounds, known as hummocks, which support the trees. Many bird and mammal species depend on these evergreen trees for nesting sites and refuge from predators. Amphibians and insects depend on them for the pools they create around their roots. Turtles depend on the hummocks for nesting and hibernation sites. These trees are slow to grow but very long-lived. Many natural stands of these trees are at least 200 years old. Atlantic White Cedar is a choice selection for those who want to make a long-lasting positive impact on the Earth. These conifers, with their fragrant blue-green foliage, straight-grained bark, and cathedral-like canopies elicit feelings of wonder in all who observe them. This tree is also of cultural and medicinal importance to Indigenous Peoples.

Cultivation Details: Several ornamental cultivars of Atlantic White Cedar exist, however, we offer the straight species. Atlantic White Cedars should be planted in areas that remain wet nearly year-round. They will grow 12-18 inches per year as saplings under ideal conditions. They are also quick to mature, producing cones anywhere from 2-5 years after planting. Saplings have been known to produce viable seeds in nature in as little as 4 years after germination. The seeds are minute and are not always viable. Consider Atlantic White Cedar for rewilding areas with poor drainage. They are uniquely suited to create their own ecosystem and may re-seed in ideal environments. An excellent native species to grow in coastal regions, large rain gardens, wetlands, or wetland-adjacent spaces. Several may be planted to form a colony or a single tree may be planted as a specimen. These trees are adapted to moist, spongy soils, but their root systems are comparatively shallow. Individual trees can be toppled by strong winds, especially during wet years, unless protected by a windbreak. In their natural environments, colonies of these trees support each other by entangling their root systems. If this tree is desired as a single specimen, consider pairing with other wetland shrubs or trees such as Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica), Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), and Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) for root support.

Growing Requirements: Plant in full sun to partial shade. Requires wet soils. Tolerates dryness only for 1-2 months each year. Prefers to grow in muck up to 18″ deep. Tolerates standing water at maturity. Prefers areas with loamy or sandy soils underlying the muck layer. Suitable for growth in acidic, neutral, and alkaline soils.

Fun Facts: At one time, hundreds of thousands of acres of Atlantic White Cedar dominated the coastline, from Maine to North Carolina, and were a primary building material for the people who lived there. The easily shaped, rot-resistant, and salt-resistant wood is commonly made into shingles, which turn gray after a few months of exposure to the elements. Characteristic whitish-gray Atlantic White Cedar shingles are still found on many structures in coastal towns across the Eastern Seaboard, especially along the New England coast. Today the trees have become far less numerous, however, and the area they cover is currently less than 1/5 of what it was before settlement. Commercial growers note that it takes 70 years for a tree to be of value from germination to harvest. Atlantic White Cedar wood dating to over 1,000 years old has been recovered from ancient swamps and is known to still be workable!