Alaska Cedar

Callitropsis nootkatensis

Introduced to the property in 2016. Is growing well.

Callitropsis nootkatensis

Introduced CONIFERS

DOLPHIN PLACE Specimens

Alaska Cedar

15 feet

2010

HIEGHT

DIAMETER

YEAR AQUIRED

within 70 miles, Olympics

Provenance

Needles

Alaska Cedar needles are small, scale-like, flattened, and tightly pressed in four rows, giving a feathery look with pointed, prickly tips that are deep green to blue-green, often forming graceful, drooping sprays on the branchlets, and releasing a distinct, slightly pungent odor when crushed. Similar to Western Red Cedar, but sharper when rubbed backwards.

Cones

Alaska Cedar cones look like small soccer balls, small, round (about 1/2 inch), bluish-green when young, turning brown when mature after two years, and feature a distinct, sharp point (peltate scales) on each of their 4-6 scales, giving them a unique, spiky look unlike other local cedars. Both tiny yellow male pollen cones and the larger seed cones grow on the drooping branchlets, maturing at different times.

Bark

Alaska Cedar is hard to tell from Western Red Cedar. Alaska Cedar is also called yellow cedar, the sawn wood is more yellow than red. The worn cloth-like bark is dirty brown, separating into long, loose, vertical strips or curling into narrow scales, revealing cinnamon-brown inner bark, giving it a shaggier, rougher look than Western Red Cedar. Young bark starts smoother and gray, but matures into this fibrous, peeling texture, often buckling at the base.

Callitropsis nootkatensis