Western Red Cedar
Thuja plicata
The most iconic tree of the Pacific Northwest, common throughout Port Moody, Coquitlam, and the Tri-Cities. Often found in backyards, parks, and as privacy hedges.
FormbarkbarkHow to recognise it
Height
40-60m (130-200ft)
Trunk
Up to 3m diameter with reddish-brown, fibrous bark that peels in long strips
Needles
Scale-like, overlapping, flat sprays with a distinctive aromatic scent when crushed
Cones
Small, 1-1.5cm, egg-shaped, clustered near branch tips
Quick check
- Distinctive aromatic cedar scent
- Reddish, stringy bark
- Flat, fan-like foliage sprays
- Buttressed trunk base on mature trees
- Drooping branch tips
Photo guide
5 things to look for: photographs coming
Care
Watering. Prefers consistently moist soil. Established trees are drought-tolerant but may show stress (browning foliage) in extended dry periods.
Pruning. Tolerates pruning well. Shape hedges and remove dead wood regularly. Avoid cutting into old wood as it may not regenerate. Best time: Late spring to early summer, after new growth emerges
Maintenance. Low maintenance once established. Mulch to retain moisture. Water during drought to prevent stress browning.
Common issues
- Cedar leaf blight (brown patches)
- Spider mites in dry conditions
- Root rot in poorly drained soil
- Winter browning from desiccation
Roots
Shallow, spreading fibrous root system Can extend 2-3 times the canopy width, primarily in top 60cm of soil
Hazards
Windfall risk
Medium
Branch drop risk
Low
Warning signs to watch for
- Leaning trunk with root plate movement
- Significant crown dieback
- Fungal conks at base
- Browning progressing from inner to outer foliage
Removal considerations
Difficulty: HighTypical cost: $$$- Large mature specimens require crane or technical rigging
- Wood is lightweight but brittle - requires careful sectioning
- Shallow root system means potential for sudden windthrow
- Often located near structures due to hedge use
- Heritage tree protection may apply in many municipalities
Permits
A mature Western Red Cedar is over every threshold in the region, so assume a permit. Permit thresholds vary across the region: 15cm or 5m tall in Port Coquitlam, 20cm in Anmore, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, New Westminster and Delta, 30cm in Port Moody and Surrey, and 30.5cm for conifers in Burnaby (Belcarra regulates only trees 5m+ in its mapped permit areas). Coquitlam allows two protected trees a year without one, but that allowance disappears if the lot has a riparian area, a steep slope or a covenant on title. Expect replacement planting as a condition, and an arborist report if the tree is being called hazardous.
Tree bylaws by city