Yellow Cedar: A Northwest Giant

Internal Tool Developers: Leslie C. Brodie 
Partners: USDI Bureau of Land Management

Description

Yellow cedar, also known as Alaska cedar, Alaska yellow cedar, Nootka cypress, yellow cypress, and Alaska cypress is an important native conifer with a range from northern California to the Kenai Peninsula in southern Alaska. In the southern part of its range it occurs mostly at mid to high elevations but it also grows at low elevations farther north. The species is ecologically important. Trees are shade tolerant and very long-lived – they can survive for many centuries or even more than a thousand years. Traditionally the species was prized for its fibrous bark and soft but durable wood used to carve utensils, vessels, paddles and masks. It is a very valuable wood used for general construction (especially in Asia), boatbuilding and finish carpentry.

Although yellow cedar is a slow-growing species on most sites, due to its longevity massive trees can develop. The size and appearance of yellow cedar has been documented on hundreds of sites by a forester in Washington. You can visit his Photographic Guide.

In the northern part of its range, yellow cedar trees have been dying for several decades. This yellow cedar decline has been studied extensively and is thought to be the result of declining snow cover. Historically, deep and persistent snow packs protected surface roots from freezing damage during the winter. Read more in the PNW publication "Science Finding".

An international conference in 2010 focused on yellow cedar and redcedar and led to the publication of several papers on the ecology and management of the species titled "A Tale of Two Cedars: International Symposium on Western Redcedar and Yellow-Cedar".

Other information on the species is available. The genus (the first part of the scientific name of the species), has changed over time and not everyone agrees on the current correct name so you will see it referred to as Callitropsis, Chamaecyparis, Xanthocyparis or Cupressus nootkatensis in the following publications:

• Ecology and management - USFS's Silvics of North America
• Cones and seeds - (listed as Chamaecyparis) USFS's Woody Plant Seed Manual
• Conservation and managment in Alaska - A Climate Adaptation Strategy
• Yellow Cedar entry in the Fire Effects Information System.
• Recent interest in the species has included a study of genetic markers.
• A 1997 Forest Service bibliography on the species (GTR 413)

Male flowers. Photo by P. Hennon.

Seedling. Photo by P. Hennon.

 

 

Use

The website has been viewed by many natural resource professionals and others with a general interest in the species. Several national forests in Washington and Oregon have used it to add the tree to their list of species. To minimize vandalism, specific site locations are not posted online.