I find it amusing that we now have a western red cedar question. This conifer is over 65 years old and is located in Montgomery AL. I appreciate any help.

To be honest, from the images you provided, I can't be sure. My reference book shows cones with a more conical shape.
You say it is 65 years old. I am wondering why after all of these years, it hasn't grown more upright? Could that be because of excessive heat where it is located? Out west it thrives in cooler climates.
If you crush the leaves between your fingers, does it smell like pineapple?? That is suppose to be very distinctive of the species.

Hi Bill, we can strike off western cedar then. Not pineappley, cones are not cone shaped. Does your book have Thujopsis dolobrata? on why it's not more upright. I've always called this tree an arborvitae, why I chose to veer off into the western cedar I don't know.

No, my books do not have these hybrids and special varieties. There are just so many these days. My books are from college back in 67-71, as I date myself!! Haha.

It is just that I adore and appreciate evergreens of any kind! When I lived 9 years in Florida, I missed evergreens and a change of seasons. 2009-2018 in Florida, there was a change in seasons from the rainy season to the dry season, from hot and humid to warm and humid. Change in colors for Fall was green to yellow and the brown. Sometimes we skipped yellow completely. From Spring to Summer to Fall to Winter was sorely missed.
But coming out of college I grew some evergreens, loved them but I never became a big grower of them. There was only so much I could fit on a 50 x 150 lot.

In Michigan, my property of six tenths of an acre is full of old standards, Balsam Fir, Norway Spruce, and Eastern Red Cedar. But it does not mean that I don't enjoy seeing them. In Ann Arbor, 40 minutes away, we have a "pinetum"! I go the twice a year just to enjoy the different fragrances and textures. I wish I knew more, grew more so I could help you. But I have turned all of my attention to perennials that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Good luck!!!

@BigBill thank you for trying to help. I appreciate your effort on trying to ID my tree as well as planting those perennials for the birds and pollinators. I'm trying to provide more host plants for the butterflies. Slow process but I'm getting there!

Ain't it the truth!?!?!?

I have been at this now for four summers, this will be 5. I see progress in more honeybees every year. I hope that you do too!!

I am intimately familiar with thuja plicata. As forester and timber cruiser west of the Cascade range, I spent my working life in that tree's company. The foliage of your tree sure looks like WRC to me. Could it be your southern climate and conditions cause distortion of the tree's habit? Maybe mangling the form of its cones? Your tree looks plenty healthy - western red cedar or not.

What's interesting to me is why folks write the name "western red cedar"? Out here, the correct spelling is to combine the "red" and the "cedar" into one word: western redcedar. It used to be that green horns who'd write "red cedar" out here would got reprimanded by us old guard! I have no idea how or why that came about. It's as much a mystery to me as how your tree ever made it to Alabama.

greenriverfs,

I had asked myself every one of your questions, right down to when did it become 3 words.

Compare cones here, Thojopsis is under "Northern Cupressaceae"
http://www.pinetum.org/cones/m...