Northern Whitecedar

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• arborvitae
• eastern arborvitae
• eastern white cedar
• northern white cedar
• northern white-cedar
• swamp cedar
• American Arbor-Vitae
• Arbor-vitae
• Eastern White-cedar
• White Cedar
• swamp-cedar
• white-cedar
• American arborvitae

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Thuja occidentalis f. variegata
• Thuja occidentalis f. lutea
• Thuja occidentalis f. aureovariegata
• Thuja occidentalis f. ellwangeriana
• Thuja occidentalis f. magnifica
• Thuja wareana var. lutea
• Thuja occidentalis f. pendula-glauca
• Thuja occidentalis var. douglasii-pyramidalis
• Thuja occidentalis f. filicoides
• Thuja obtusa
• Thuja sibirica
• Thuja occidentalis f. gaspensis
• Thuja occidentalis var. douglasii
• Thuja recurvata-nana
• Thuja triangularis
• Thuja occidentalis var. squarrosa
• Thuja occidentalis var. pendula
• Thuja occidentalis f. pendula
• Thuja globosa
• Thuja occidentalis pendula-variegata
• Thuja hoveyi
• Thuja vervaeneana
• Thuja odorata
• Thuja ellwangeriana
• Thuja occidentalis f. recurva-nana
• Thuja tatarica
• Thuja variegata
• Thuja occidentalis f. recurvata
• Retinispora meldensis
• Retinispora devriesiana
• Retinispora keteleeri
• Retinispora troubetzkoyana
• Retinispora pygmaea
• Retinispora glaucescens
• Retinispora dubia
• Retinispora ellwangeriana
• Retinispora nobleana
• Thuja occidentalis f. prostrata
• Thuja compacta
• Thuja canadensis
• Thuja caucasica
• Thuja occidentalis var. cristata
• Thuja bodmeri
• Cupressus nobleana
• Cupressus arborvitae
• Thuja occidentalis var. magnifica
• Thuja occidentalis var. compacta
• Thuja occidentalis f. compacta
• Thuja occidentalis var. buchananii
• Thuja occidentalis f. buchananii
• Thuja occidentalis var. fastigiata
• Thuja occidentalis f. fastigiata
• Thuja occidentalis ericoides
• Thuja occidentalis f. mastersii
• Thuja occidentalis var. globosa
• Thuja occidentalis f. globosa
• Thuja occidentalis var. woodwardii
• Thuja occidentalis f. woodwardii
• Thuja occidentalis var. hoveyi
• Thuja occidentalis f. hoveyi
• Thuja occidentalis pumila
• Thuja occidentalis f. pumila
• Thuja occidentalis var. umbraculifera
• Thuja occidentalis f. umbraculifera
• Thuja sibirica var. pendula
• Thuja occidentalis var. filiformis
• Thuja occidentalis f. filiformis
• Thuja occidentalis f. ohlendorffii
• Thuja occidentalis f. cristata
• Thuja occidentalis f. ericoides
• Thuja occidentalis var. alba
• Thuja occidentalis f. alba
• Thuja occidentalis var. variegata
• Thuja occidentalis var. vervaeneana
• Thuja occidentalis f. vervaeneana
• Thuja occidentalis var. aureovariegata
• Thuja occidentalis f. wareana-lutescens
• Thuja occidentalis var. variegata-aurea
• Thuja occidentalis var. aurea
• Thuja occidentalis f. aurea
• Thuja occidentalis var. sempervirens
• Thuja occidentalis f. sempervirens
• Thuja occidentalis var. lutea
• Thuja occidentalis var. robusta
• Thuja occidentalis f. robusta
• Thuja occidentalis f. riversii
• Thuja occidentalis f. viridis
• Thuja occidentalis var. rosenthalii
• Thuja occidentalis f. rosenthalii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Pinidae and the order Pinales, falling into the family Cupressaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Thuja.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a distinct geographical presence across several regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally throughout the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Its distribution extends westward to include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving further north, the species is also established within the landscapes of Norway. Finally, the plant completes its regional range by inhabiting the territories of Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Thuja occidentalis is characterized by its ability to thrive across a specific altitudinal gradient, typically occupying an elevational range that begins at 900 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2100 m AMSL. While it is naturally found in various wild environments, it is frequently integrated into human-managed landscapes, such as in a garden habitat.

Elevational range max:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

900 m AMSL

Habitat :

garden

Life history

The life history of Thuja occidentalis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the organism to persist across multiple growing seasons and establish long-term presence in its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated well above the ground level, a structural adaptation that protects the plant's vital growing points from environmental stressors and seasonal fluctuations. This phanerophyte life form enables the species to develop into a robust, woody structure capable of enduring varied climatic conditions over many years.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Thuja occidentalis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that is entirely self-supporting rather than acting as a climber or liana. This species is a terrestrial plant, existing as an independent organism that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant vertical development, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 5 meters to a maximum of 20 meters, maintaining a mean height of approximately 15.625 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

15.625 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Thuja occidentalis is characterized by a specialized metabolic and structural framework adapted to its coniferous lifestyle. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is the standard mechanism for most gymnosperms, involving the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. It is a non-carnivorous species, relying entirely on its root system and soil nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey for nitrogen or other essential elements. Structurally, the plant exhibits a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 44.84 cm²/g, a metric that reflects the morphological investment in its scale-like foliage and its efficiency in balancing light interception with water conservation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

44.84 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Thuja occidentalis is characterized by an abiotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on the wind to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The flowering period typically begins in April and concludes in May, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. This species produces extremely small seeds, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.001256 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00109 g to a maximum of 0.0018 g. Furthermore, asexual reproduction is noted to be absent in this plant, meaning it relies entirely on sexual processes for propagation.

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0018 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001256 g

Seed mass min:

0.00109 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Thuja occidentalis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chemicals

Thuja occidentalis has 61 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include THUJONE, (+)-4-Carene, (+)-catechin, (-)-Borneol, 10-nonacosanol.

THUJONE

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

(+)-4-Carene

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

(+)-catechin

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Borneol

1. Dr. Duke

10-nonacosanol

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

BETA-PINENE

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

BORNYL ACETATE

1. Dr. Duke

Borneol

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Thuja occidentalis has 309 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Immunomodulator, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

Immunomodulator

1. Dr. Duke
2. Advances in therapy

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Thuja occidentalis has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include breast cancer, cancer, AIDS, Rhabdomyosarcoma, common cold.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations