Astoria Middle School
Astoria, OR

Lewis and Clark
and the Western Red Cedar

This species of trees is called Thuja plicata, more commonly known as Western Red cedar. It can grow to be 60 meters tall and very large around. The branches droop slightly, then turn up. The color of the bark can be grey to a reddish-brown and is strongly scented. The leaves look like scaly braids and are a yellowish-green color. The pollen cones that come from the trees are small, egg-shaped, and grow in loose bunches. Western Red cedar grows in large numbers and is widely spread. This tree doesn't grow in higher elevations, but is very shade tolerant. It can grow in lots of types of soil. It mostly grows in moist to wet soils, but has been known to grow in dry, rich soil.

About the western red cedar

Lewis and Clark's references and observations of the Western Red Cedar

Native American uses of the Western Red Cedar

Making a bentwood box

Building a canoe

Lewis and Clark's Expedition · The Legacy Grows: Lewis and Clark's Garden · Student Projects (Teach Lewis and Clark) · About the Student Projects