Alaska Cedar

Alaska cedar (also called Nootka cypress or yellow cedar) is a conifer of coastal mountains and cold, moist forest sites, a narrowly pyramidal tree with graceful, drooping branch tips and fine, scale-like foliage. The foliage is bright yellow-green to dark green, aromatic, and arranged in flattened sprays. The bark is gray-brown, thin, and breaks into narrow, fibrous strips. The small, rounded cones mature in two years (unlike other conifers). The tree grows slowly to 75+ feet in its native high-elevation habitat; in managed lowland sites in Western Washington, it grows to 40-60 feet and develops a more open crown than mountain populations. The wood is prized for its fragrance, durability, and fine grain.

In Western Washington lowlands, Alaska cedar is an excellent choice for moist, shaded sites where it receives consistent moisture during the growing season. The tree performs best in part shade with high humidity and moderate temperatures; it declines in hot, dry sites. The species thrives in our maritime climate and has few pest and disease problems in lowland settings. Growth is slow to moderate, taking 15-20 years to reach 30-40 feet of usable height. The fine texture, graceful form, and distinctive foliage color make it valuable for specimen placement or screening where its narrow crown can be appreciated. Young trees are somewhat stiff and columnar; they relax and broaden slightly with age. For riparian restoration and shaded understory work, Alaska cedar is an underutilized native that deserves wider planting; it provides canopy and diversity while tolerating the cool, moist conditions of our foothill and montane transition zones.