Common names: Northern White-cedar, Arborvitae Binomial name: Thuja occidentalis Garden uses: hedges and shrubbery, specimen trees Foliage: evergreen Flowers: none Wisconsin native range: found primarily in the northern part of the state, with scattered populations in more southerly regions. Northern white-cedar is a very versatile garden tree. One of the most widely-planted landscape conifers, it comes in many different cultivars of various growth habits and foliage colors. Its size varies widely, depending the cultivar, but wild-type plants are generally medium-sized trees, often with multiple trunks. This tree does best in moist to wet alkaline soils. It is shade tolerant, but grows faster in sunnier locations. Propagate by seeds or cuttings. Harvest seed cones in the autumn. Propagate cultivars by cuttings to preserve the unique character of the cultivar. | |