WALLACE W HANSENNative Plants of the NorthwestNative Plant Nursery & Gardens
2158 Bower Ct S.E., Salem, Oregon 97317-9216
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Wallace W Hansen Click here for Home Page: www.nwplants.com For information about Wallace W Hansen Northwest Native Plant Nursery & Gardens: Business Information (Ordering, etc.) |
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Updated August 18, 2007Chamaecyparis nootkatensis: Alaska Cedar, Alaska Yellow Cedar, Yellow Cypress, Nootka Cedar, Sitka CypressFamily: Cupressaceae (Cypress) |
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| A Note from Wally: I grow Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (Alaska Cedar, Alaska Yallow Cedar, Yellow Cypress, Nootka Cedar, Sitka Cypress) and many other Northwest Native Plants here in my Nursery and Gardens in the Willamette Valley in Western Oregon. I specialize in Northwest Native Plants and sell both Wholesale and Retail, depending on quantity. I usually have plants available year-round in one gallon containers and often in various other container sizes and as Bare Root plants in the Winter months. |
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This site is intended as a reference for all who are
interested in Northwest Native Plants: amateur, professional – everyone.
For more information, go to my Home Page at www.nwplants.com and then
click on Plant
Catalog
for current prices and availability. Be sure and then click on Plant
Sales for any bargains. If you buy in large quantities, check the Wholesale
Information Sites on my Home Page.
If you have any information about this species – stories, climates, uses, propagation, etc. please contact me at plants@nwplants.com If I publish your tips and information, I will credit you on the web and send you a credit memo. The following article is by Staff Writer Jennifer Bosvert. |
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mourners of the Pacific coastal forest, Alaska cedars evoke the foggy,
mysterious northern coast. While the foliage and bark are similar to other
false cedars, the flexible limbs create a beautiful weeping appearance not
observed in similar conifers. Sometimes
with a somber yellowish hue from last year’s leaves, this unique tree
seeks out the difficult places to grow and then takes root. Living for thousands of years and sometimes only a few feet
high, this stubborn tree silhouettes craggy mountain ridges, as well as
growing tall and strong in milder regions. Viewed from a height, their unique silhouette stands out against
the rest of the forest canopy, and the drooping leader completes the
mournful appearance. The
weeping form has a practical side; the flexibility of the limbs prevents
breakage from snow load by permitting snow to slide off easily. In extreme climates,
if a sunny day occurs while the roots are still frozen, the contrasting
temperature may kill the upper parts of the trees. This phenomenon creates stunning silver snags on
otherwise healthy living trees.
Undisturbed specimens in the northern coastal forests can reach 1000-3500 years old and 100’ tall. Usually the trees are shorter than this, even dwarfed, in the harsh conditions at higher altitudes. The bark is similar to Western red cedar: thin fibrous and gray (brown underneath), however it peels off in shorter strips than does the red cedar. The trunk becomes buttressed at large sizes, but generally never gets that big. The smell of the foliage, bark, and primarily the wood is often referred to as malodorous, and compared to rotten potatoes. The leaves are very much like the scale leaves of the Port Orford cedar and the Western red cedar, but may be distinguished by the lack of white markings on the underside. They are blue-green and droop in fronds from the weeping branches. The small-scale leaves have pointed tips and can be relatively prickly, although nothing like a spruce. The cones begin as small waxy green seeds that mature into brown woody round cones about one centimeter across (very similar to the Port Orford cedar). The male flowers are yellow and generally occur on the side branches of last year’s growth. The occasional yellowish cast is due to old leaves that have turned color, but take a year to fall. See Identification of False Cedars for more information. |
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Habitat and Range Alaska cedar likes wet areas at
higher elevations than the other false cedars of the Pacific Northwest.
Some sources say that this stubborn tree seeks out difficult areas
to grow in order to minimize competition. Often they are found near timberline, and in the Oregon Cascades
almost always north of Mt. Jefferson. In the wild, one can find Alaska cedar from sea level Alaska, south
to northern California at increasing altitudes further south,
2000’-7000’. They are
found in the Olympic Mountains and the Cascades of Washington and Oregon,
and east to Oregon’s Blue Mountains. The name is taken in part from Nootka Sound where it was
first observed. |
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Ornamental Values: Chamaecyparis nootkatensis is an amazingly adaptable tree, and has been highly valued in British gardens for many years. It enjoys relatively moist soils, and can tolerate those of low fertility, although reportedly it grows faster and more lush in favorable garden conditions. Compared with other conifers, Alaska cedar has a somewhat narrow profile and it grows more slowly than the other false cedars, making it an excellent choice for urban areas. Alaska cedar is shade tolerant, although perhaps not so much as the other false cedars, and can be sheared into a hedge. These trees also work well in large rockeries due in part to their tolerance of coarse soils (or lack of soil), and as evidenced by their occurrence on rocky ridges. In alpine areas, Alaska cedar is also found as krummholz cushions (low-growing mats) three feet high and up to 50’ across. Chamaecyparis nootkatensis is hardy in Sunset zones 4-6 and 15-17. Given Alaska cedar’s tolerance of a wide variety of conditions, one wonders what other uses are possible. Bonsai anyone? |
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Native Plant Gardening/Wildlife Habitat: Like most conifers, the primary
wildlife value of the Alaska cedar is found as winter shelter, cover from
predators, and as a nesting site in the spring. |
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Restoration and Mitigation Values: With its adaptability for wet and poor soils, this tree could be useful in wetland sites, however it does not compete with other trees as well as Western red cedar. Alaska cedar is the only conifer that will survive avalanche so it is also ideal for sub alpine areas. |
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Historical and Cultural Uses: Because of the high durability of the wood when wet, native peoples of the northern coast often used it for canoe paddles. Less frequently than Western red cedar, Alaska cedar was used to build dugout canoes. Some attested that the bark was softer than that of Western red cedar and used it for clothing and weaving, and the yellow wood was also prized for carving ceremonial masks. |
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Edible and Medicinal Uses*: Foliage
from the Alaska cedar was used by native peoples in sweat baths as an aid
for arthritis and rheumatism. Infusions
of the bark or foliage were also used on sores and swelling.
*Please use caution when preparing
or eating any parts of a plant. Identification
of the species and knowledge of a plant’s toxicity are both essential
before using any plant species medicinally or otherwise. Please consult with a health professional before attempting to
treat any ailment. |
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Propagation Techniques: Chamaecyparis nootkatensis can be started from seed or cuttings, however cuttings have the most success since much of the seed produced are not viable. Cuttings are easily sprouted using standard techniques. Layering is also successful, as trees in the wild are found to layer under snow. |
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Common Diseases: Insects and diseases have very little effect on Alaska cedar. At least four chemicals found in the heartwood are toxic to fungi, so rot is generally only found in very ancient or dead trees. It is not susceptible to the Phytophthora root rot. |
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References:
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