Tree identification · Western Washington
Western Red Cedar Identification Guide for Western Washington
Western redcedar ( Thuja plicata ), also written western red cedar, has overlapping scale-like leaves arranged in flattened sprays. Turn a spray over to look for pale markings, then compare the small cones and fibrous bark.
This guide combines close-up reference images with Sound Tree Care field photographs to help you distinguish this native tree from common landscape look-alikes around Seattle and Puget Sound.
Western Redcedar Quick Facts
- Scientific name
- Thuja plicata
- Tree type
- Native evergreen conifer
- Foliage
- Overlapping scales in flat sprays
- Useful leaf clue
- Pale markings underneath the sprays
- Seed cones
- Small, elongated; about ½ inch long
- Bark
- Gray-brown to reddish; fibrous strips
Western redcedar belongs to the cypress family. It is not a true cedar in the genus Cedrus , and it is not the same species as eastern redcedar, a juniper.
How to Identify Western Red Cedar
- Examine a complete foliage spray. The tiny leaves overlap along flattened branchlets. They do not form the individual fir-like needles seen on Douglas-fir.
- Check the underside. Pale markings can form a butterfly-like pattern against the green scales. Photograph both sides of the same spray.
- Find a seed cone. Look for small, elongated cones with several thin scales, rather than large woody cones or round juniper-like fruits.
- Compare the trunk. Fibrous bark, a tapering trunk, and a flared or fluted base help complete the identification.
Use several clues together. White markings, aromatic foliage, and stringy bark occur on other conifers too. A clear underside photo plus mature cones is more useful than the label “cedar” alone.
Western Redcedar Visual Identification Guide
Compare the foliage and cones first, then check bark and branching. Reference photographs are credited individually; the trunk photographs come from Sound Tree Care's CompanyCam library.
Foliage: flat sprays of tiny scales
Look closely at the branchlet rather than expecting a broad leaf. The overlapping scales form a flattened surface, with green upper foliage and paler markings beneath.
Keep the entire spray in your photograph. A distant green branch or a few detached scales rarely provide enough detail.
Cones: small and elongated
Seed cones develop near twig ends. They begin green and become brown as they mature, opening to expose their scales. Include a ruler or familiar object nearby for scale without removing a branch.
Do not confuse the tiny pollen structures with mature seed cones; the two look different.
Bark: long fibers and narrow ridges
Western redcedar bark has a stringy texture, separating into long strips. Color varies with age, weather, and surface growth. Compare that texture with the scale-like foliage before identifying a tree.
You do not need to peel bark from a living tree. Photograph existing ridges and loose outer fibers instead.
Growth habit: a tree or a managed screen
Mature western redcedars can become very large trees with tapering trunks and broad bases. Branches may droop, while their tips turn upward.
A sheared hedge can look very different from an open-grown tree. Use the botanical features rather than the size or shape of the planting alone.
Western Red Cedar vs. Arborvitae and Other Look-Alikes
“Arborvitae” is an overlapping common name. Western redcedar is itself a Thuja and may be called giant arborvitae. Many nursery hedges are eastern arborvitae ( Thuja occidentalis ), while others are western redcedar cultivars or hybrids. A hedge is not automatically a different species.
| Tree | What to compare | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Western redcedar | Flattened scales, pale underside pattern, small elongated cones, fibrous bark | Use the complete set of traits, not height alone |
| Eastern arborvitae | Also has flat scale-like foliage and small elongated cones | Very similar; examine underside details, cones, and nursery records together |
| Incense cedar | Longer scale-leaf segments form a wine-glass-like pattern | Larger cones with prominent paired scales, often described as duck bills |
| Western hemlock | Separate flat needles of unequal lengths | Needles rather than overlapping cedar-like scales |
| Douglas-fir | Separate needles, pointed buds, and hanging cones | Cones have distinctive projecting three-pointed bracts |
| Eastern redcedar | A juniper, despite the shared common name | Rounded, berry-like seed cones rather than western redcedar's elongated cones |
For individual needles and larger hanging cones, see our Douglas-fir identification guide.
Does Brown Foliage Mean a Cedar Is Dying?
Not necessarily. Western redcedar sheds some older inner foliage. Seasonal patches of inner browning can occur while the outer sprays remain green. That pattern differs from progressive thinning, dead branch tips, or a newly dead top.
Washington forest-health agencies have documented western redcedar decline. Heat, moisture stress, site changes, and other factors require consideration; brown foliage is not a diagnosis of one particular pest or disease.
Next Steps for a Cedar on Your Property
Start with the question you need answered: identification, clearance, declining foliage, a structural concern, or removal feasibility. Tree size and proximity to a building do not answer all those questions by themselves.
- For identification: send both sides of a foliage spray, a cone, the bark, and a whole-tree view.
- For pruning: explain the specific clearance or maintenance goal. See our tree pruning services.
- For soil and root concerns: mention excavation, paving, grade changes, or altered drainage. Explore plant health care and root-zone services.
- For structural concerns: ask about a tree risk assessment.
- Before removal: discuss scope and applicable local permit requirements.
Keep identification separate from assessment. Photos can show useful features and help scope a visit. A formal condition assessment or written arborist report may require a separately scoped site evaluation.
Western Red Cedar Identification FAQs
Are western red cedar and western redcedar the same tree?
Yes. Both spellings commonly refer to Thuja plicata. Checking the scientific name avoids confusion with unrelated trees sold or described as cedars.
How do I tell western redcedar from arborvitae?
First establish which arborvitae is meant. Western redcedar belongs to that group itself. Eastern arborvitae is a close relative with similar foliage, so compare underside markings and cones and use planting records where available.
Can I identify it from bark alone?
Bark helps, but several conifers have fibrous bark. Include a foliage close-up and seed cones if available. Do not strip living bark to check the species.
Does a western redcedar have needles?
Its adult foliage consists of tiny overlapping scales in flattened sprays, rather than the separate needles typical of Douglas-fir or western hemlock.
Is a brown patch always a reason to remove the tree?
No. Record where the browning occurs and whether it is spreading. Decisions about treatment, pruning, or removal depend on the tree's condition, the site, and your goals—not one patch of foliage.
Can Sound Tree Care help with cedar identification and care?
Send your city, photographs, and the concern you want addressed. We can discuss an appropriate next step for your property in Seattle, Burien, SeaTac, and surrounding Puget Sound communities.
Need Help with a Cedar Tree?
Share a whole-tree photo, close-up foliage images, and a description of what has changed. Sound Tree Care can discuss pruning, root-zone care, assessment, or removal planning based on your property's needs.
More Identification Resources
Continue with our Douglas-fir, tree-of-heaven, and Mimosa guides.
References and photo credits
Field photographs: Sound Tree Care LLC. Reference photographs are credited with their licenses above.
