British columbia red cedar
Thuja plicata
Last reviewed: September 2026

Toxicity unknown
British columbia red cedar (Thuja plicata) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
600"–1200" H × 180"–300" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr
Native to
CA, ID, MT, OR and 1 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Large pyramidal evergreen conifer with drooping branchlets of flat, scale-like foliage and fibrous reddish bark. Found in moist forests and along streams, capable of reaching great size and age.
Wildlife value
Dense evergreen foliage provides year-round cover and nesting sites for birds and is browsed by deer and elk.
Common questions
- How much sun does British columbia red cedar need?
- British columbia red cedar grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does British columbia red cedar bloom?
- British columbia red cedar blooms in March and April.
- Where is British columbia red cedar native?
- British columbia red cedar (Thuja plicata) is native to CA, ID, MT, OR and 1 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow British columbia red cedar? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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