Clear Up Confusion About Cedar Trees
The trees in Ross Creek Giant Cedar Grove in Montana’s RossCreek State Park and what people call “Cedars” all over the U.S. are not true“Cedar” trees. Cedrus (common name Cedar) is a genus of coniferous trees in theplant family Pinaceae. They are native to the mountains of the westernHimalayas and the Mediterranean region, occurring at altitudes of 1,500–3,200m. in the Himalayas and 1,000–2,200 m. in the Mediterranean. No Cedrus, trueCedar grows naturally in North America.
The trees at RossCreek State park are really Thuja plicata genus. Commonly called Pacificredcedar, giant-cedar, arborvitae, canoe-cedar, Western redcedar andshinglewood. They are the only Thuja species native to western North America.
When people came from Europe & Mediterranean countriesthey called both Thuja genus & Juniperus genus trees Cedar because theysmelled similar to Cedrus, (Cedar Trees) that they were familiar with in theirhomeland Mediterranean countries. They also have some red colored wood in theirinterior similar to true Cedrus trees. No Cedrus, true Cedar grows naturally inNorth America.
The trees at RossCreek State park are really Thuja plicata genus. Commonly called Pacificredcedar, giant-cedar, arborvitae, canoe-cedar, Western redcedar andshinglewood. They are the only Thuja species native to western North America.
When people came from Europe & Mediterranean countriesthey called both Thuja genus & Juniperus genus trees Cedar because theysmelled similar to Cedrus, (Cedar Trees) that they were familiar with in theirhomeland Mediterranean countries. They also have some red colored wood in theirinterior similar to true Cedrus trees. No Cedrus, true Cedar grows naturally inNorth America.
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2 comments
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Interesting. Even the tree everyone calls red cedar is really a juniper.
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Yes Doug Hunt. It is a Juniperus virginiana. The only place in the world true "Cedars" grow naturally are in a few Mediterranean countries. There are a lot of "Myths" in our business.
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