Grid reference | ST 18383 78804 |
Common name | Western red cedar |
Origin | West North America |
Deciduous | No |
Map section | L |
Height | 17M February 2021 |
Girth | Multi-stem |
Reference | 629 |
This tree is adjacent to the north east boundary and the railway line. Close to the tree there a slight fragrance vaguely resembling Philadelphus. The fragrance is far more evident when some leaves are crushed.
General tree description
Thuja plicata is a large or very large tree, up to 45 metres tall in Britain. It has a neat spire shape with a broad base of spreading branches. The bark is dark red-brown and has a shredding texture. The foliage is aromatic, giving a strong, sweet, fruity scent especially when crushed. It comprises flat 2D, drooping sprays of scale-like leaves, bright glossy green above, with green-white undersides. Tiny, pale yellow, inconspicuous male flowers emerge on the ends of the smallest shoots and in March they shed very fine pollen. Female flowers are reddish-purple and are followed by the cones. These are egg-shaped and approximately 15mm long. They are green to yellow-green, ripening to brown.