Tree · Cupressaceae family
western red cedar
Thuja plicata
In short a 10-second read
Western red cedar (tree) grows to 15–25 m tall and 5–8 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −29 °C.
× spread 5–8 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −29 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average to moist · watering: a lot
Soil: loamy, humus-rich, clay
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 10–20 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove overlong shoots (April–August).
Planting
container plant: March, October–November
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −29 °C
- Evergreen — green in winter too
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Does western red cedar tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does western red cedar need?
At maturity 5–8 m wide and 15–25 m tall; recommended spacing 500 cm.
Does western red cedar survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
Toxicity
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 18 October 2026.
Show sources (14)
- GBIF — Thuja plicata
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox
- Van den Berk
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (species/match)
- Wikipedia (EN)
- RHS - Thuja plicata
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow conifers
- Tox Info Suisse — Giftige Garten- und Wildpflanzen
- BfR / GIZ — Liste giftiger Pflanzenarten
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: Slovakia, Czechia, Germany
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