4 named cultivars

treeN. America Native

Atlantic White Cedar

The Story

Plant Bio

Chamaecyparis thyoides, Atlantic white cedar, is a narrow evergreen conifer native to the eastern United States, reaching sixty to eighty feet with a distinctly conical crown. Blue-green scale-like foliage is carried in flattened sprays, and the reddish-brown bark is fibrous with intersecting flat ridges that sometimes spiral around the trunk and peel away in strips.

It grows naturally in freshwater swamps and peat bogs along the Atlantic coastal plain, tolerating standing water and periodic flooding that would kill most conifers. Those swamp stands have been heavily logged over three centuries, so planting it has genuine conservation value beyond the garden.

Uses & Benefits:

Narrow blue-green evergreen form with distinctive fibrous, ridged bark.

One of the few conifers that thrives in standing water and acidic peat.

A declining coastal-plain habitat tree; its swamps support specialist birds and amphibians.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Tree

Height

840 inches

Width

420 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

High

Humidity

High

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Eastern United States

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring in consistently moist to wet, acidic soil.
Choose full sun to partial shade.
Allow thirty to forty feet of spread for the species.
Keep the soil wet; it will not tolerate drought.
Mulch to conserve moisture around the shallow roots.
Prune only to remove dead wood, in late winter.

Pro Tip

Give it genuinely wet ground — this is a swamp tree, and the commonest failure is planting it in ordinary garden soil that dries in summer.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in wet, acidic soil 💧
Use it at pond margins and in bogs 🌲
Give the species room; it is a large tree 🌳
Mulch to keep roots moist 🍂

Don't

Plant in dry or alkaline soil ❌
Confuse dwarf cultivars with the species ❌
Let it dry out in summer ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Prune
Water

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Wet-site evergreen screenPond margin and bog plantingCoastal plain restoration

Companion Plants

Sweetbay Magnolia Inkberry Sweetspire Cinnamon Fern Buttonbush

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Atlantic White Cedar questions

What zones can Atlantic White Cedar grow in?

Atlantic White Cedar is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Atlantic White Cedar deer resistant?

Yes — Atlantic White Cedar is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Atlantic White Cedar bloom?

Atlantic White Cedar typically blooms in spring through late fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Atlantic White Cedar need full sun?

Atlantic White Cedar does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.