Western Red Cedar Tree Seeds | (Thuja plicata)

The most useful tree in Pacific Northwest Indigenous culture. The giant of the temperate rainforest.

Thuja plicata, the Western Red Cedar, is not a true cedar but a member of the cypress family, the dominant large conifer of the Pacific Coast temperate rainforest from northern California to southeastern Alaska and one of the most culturally significant trees in the history of North America. It is the tree that built totem poles, dugout canoes, longhouses, and ceremonial regalia. Its bark provided clothing, baskets, rope, and roofing. Its roots were woven into baskets so finely crafted they could hold water. Its wood is soft, straight-grained, fragrant, and extraordinarily rot-resistant, making it the standard material for outdoor construction, fencing, siding, and shingles across the Pacific Northwest to this day. If you are looking to buy Western Red Cedar seeds or grow this remarkable conifer from seed, this is the tree that shaped a culture and still defines an entire landscape.

• The dominant large conifer of the Pacific Coast temperate rainforest, capable of reaching massive size
• Exceptionally rot-resistant wood used for outdoor construction, fencing, siding, and shingles
• Central to Pacific Coast Indigenous cultures for shelter, tools, clothing, and ceremonial use
• Thrives in wet, poorly drained, and seasonally flooded soils in cool, moist climates
• Aromatic foliage and wood with the unmistakable scent of the Pacific Northwest forest

Things you probably did not know about the Western Red Cedar

It was known as the tree of life. The Haida, Tlingit, and other Pacific Coast peoples relied on Western Red Cedar for nearly every aspect of daily life. From housing and transportation to clothing and ceremonial objects, the tree was foundational. It held deep spiritual significance and was often honored before being harvested.

Ancient trees become ecosystems themselves. Western Red Cedars can live over 1,000 years and often develop hollow trunks as they age. These cavities become habitats for bears, owls, and countless smaller organisms. Inside, the environment is warmer and more humid than the surrounding forest, supporting specialized ecological communities.

Bark harvesting did not kill the tree. Indigenous harvesting techniques allowed long vertical strips of bark to be removed from living trees without killing them. The trees would continue growing and heal over time, demonstrating a sustainable relationship practiced for thousands of years.

Its wood preserves itself naturally. The rot resistance of Western Red Cedar comes from natural compounds such as thujaplicins and thujic acid that inhibit decay-causing fungi and bacteria. These compounds also give the wood its distinctive fragrance, which persists for years.

Growing Details

• Botanical Name: Thuja plicata
• Stratification: Recommended, 30 to 60 days cold stratification
• USDA Zones: 5 to 8, best in cool, moist climates
• Soil: Moist, well-drained to wet, slightly acidic, tolerates seasonal flooding
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Height: 50 to 200 feet depending on conditions
• Spread: 15 to 25 feet
• Growth Rate: Moderate, 1 to 2 feet per year, faster in ideal conditions

Plant it in a cool, moist site and give it space. You are not planting for this decade. You are planting for the next century.