Northern Whitecedar
Northern Whitecedar
Thuja occidentalis
Plantae
COMMON

Stats

Lifespan
400-1000 yrs
Size
Large
Diet
Photosynthetic
Biome
Freshwater wetland
Range
North America
Movement
Sessile
Breeding
Seeds
Defense
Toxins
Status
Common

About

This evergreen conifer grows in the cool, damp forests of North America. Its flat, scale-like leaves contain aromatic oils that repel hungry insects.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    seed
    A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
  2. 2.
    sprout
    A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
  3. 3.
    sapling
    A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
  4. 4.
    mature
    Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Pinopsida
Order
Pinales
Family
Cupressaceae
Genus
Thuja
Species
Thuja occidentalis