Green Timbers Arboretum and Nursery

Name of Tree

(Order Family Genus species); Native Area
Description

Atlas Cedar (Coniferales Pinaceae Cedrus atlantica, formerly C. libani spp. atlantica); North Africa
The Atlas cedar is native to the Atlas Mountains where it can be found at elevations of 1,000 to 2,500 metres (3,281 to 8202 ft). The Atlas Mountains include a system of ranges and plateaus in northwest Africa extending from southwest Morocco to northern Tunisia between the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea and rising to 4,167.8 m (13,665 ft). The Atlas cedar is one of four recognized species of true cedars. The other three are Cyprus cedar (C. brevifolia), Cedar of Lebanon (C. libani) and Deodar cedar (C.deodara). They are very similar to each other. True cedars are very different from the false cedars native to the Pacific Northwest. True cedars have dense clusters of evergreen needles that do not fall off in the autumn. They also have egg-shaped cones with thin scales that fall apart when mature (similar to true firs). The cones are about 3 inches (7.6 cm) long and green during the developing stage but turn brown when mature. When ripe, they shatter to release papery winged seeds. The Atlas cedar is relatively rare since most people prefer to plant the Glauca variety, which has silvery blue needles or the Aurea, which has yellowish needles. Very old trees tend to break up branch by branch each winter and become unsightly. Therefore, they do require careful pruning of all branches, except the central leader. The Atlas cedar is not particularly cold hardy, but does fairly well in marginal climates as the Pacific Northwest. Its heavy, aromatic wood is used for construction and cabinetmaking. In aromatherapy, the Atlas cedar provides a warm, woody, balsamic fragrance that is said to help calm and soothe away nervous tension.

Austrian Pine (Coniferales Pinaceae Pinus nigra); Eastern and Southern Europe
This evergreen is native to an area that expands from western Europe to Asia Minor. It is named after the central European country of Austria, but it has been widely planted in North America because of its handsome looks and its ability to adapt to urban conditions.

Chinese Pine (Coniferales Pinaceae Pinus tabulaeformis); China
This evergreen is native to China, where it has long been used to make furniture and an herbal medicine; but it was also used as a reforestation species. In 2001, an insect wiped out more than six million trees in several provinces of China. Studies completed on the tree in British Columbia have shown that its longevity increases with the latitude, but decreases with colder temperatures. It has, however, adapted fairly well in the temperate areas of this Canadian province.

Coastal Redwood (Coniferales Taxodiaceae Sequoia sempervirens); Southwestern North America
The coastal redwoods are found along the coast of North America. They grow best in foggy areas because that is where they obtain much of the moisture they require. They also seem to do well at levels below 2,000 feet in elevation and in areas of heavy winter rains with moderate temperatures. They are the tallest of the world’s living things, often reaching more than 360 feet. If allowed, they have a lifespan of 600 to 1,200 years, with some reaching more than 2,000 years. An excellent site that gives more information about the tree is here.

Colorado Spruce (Coniferales Pinaceae Picea pungens); Western North America
Native to the Rocky Mountain region of North America, this evergreen is a popular ornamental because of its bluish-silver needles. Many reach heights of at least 50 feet (15.24 meters), although trees in the wild are much taller.

Dahurian Larch (Coniferales Pinaceae Larix gmelini); Europe
Native to Russia, this larch can also be found in parts of China and Korea. The larch tree is unusual for a conifer because it loses its leaves in the fall. Before they drop off, they can turn a spectacular yellow, and are often one of the last trees to turn colour. The larches are also noted for their medicinal value.

Dawn Redwood (Coniferales Taxodiaceae Metasequoia glyptostruboides); China
Thought to be extinct, a small grove of this primitive tree was discovered in Manchuria in the late 1800s. Originally thought to be a sequoia (redwood), the dawn redwood proved to be a different species since it loses its needles in the fall.

Deodar Cedar (Coniferales Pinaceae Cedrus deodara); Himalayas The Deodar cedar is one of four true cedars (see Atlas cedar). It is also known as the Himalayan cedar or Indian cedar because it is native to those areas, growing at elevations of 3,500 to 12,000 ft (1,067 to 3,658 m) above sea level. In the Himalayas, the Deodar cedar’s range extended from Tibet to Afghanistan as well as the higher altitudes of India. The Deodar was an important timber tree in India, but has since been logged out. Because the wood was so strong, entire forests were cut down when the British built railroads across India, using the wood for everything from railroad ties and furniture to bridges and firewood. If left alone, the tree has the capacity to live for 1,000 years. Typically, as the tree ages, the lower branches bend gracefully downward and then up again. Its needles are the longest of any cedar. Essential oils extracted from the Deodar have been used in Asia as an antiseptic and to treat tuberculosis. In India, an oleoresin is used for skin ulcers and diseases. Also in India, a decoction made from wood bits was used as a diuretic and carminative, as well as to treat fevers flatulence, pulmonary and urinary disorders, rheumatism, piles, gravels in kidney, and an antidote for snake bites and scorpion stings. The needles contain vitamin C as well as antiseptic properties.

Douglas Fir (Coniferales Pinaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii); Western North America
The Douglas fir is not a true fir but rather a false hemlock. It has been a toxonomic nightmare to fit it into one genus. Consequently, its name has changed several times, with scientists finally settling on its present scientific name. Its common name was designated for the Scottish botanist, David Douglas, who who introduced many of British Columbia’s native conifers into Europe.

Eastern Hemlock (Coniferales Pinaceae Tsuga canadensis); Eastern North America
The eastern hemlock grows only in the eastern part of North America. It may take 250 to 300 years to reach maturity and may live for more than 800 years. From this information, we can assume the ones in Green Timbers Arboretum have not yet reached maturity!

Eastern White Cedar (Coniferales Cupressaceae Thuja occidentalis); Eastern North America
Cedar is thought to have been used in the Indian remedy that saved the Canadian explorer, Jacques Cartier, and his crew from scurvy . Because of its light weight and resistance to decay, it was often made into canoes and boats. The oil extracted from the boughs was used for medicines and perfumes.

Eastern White Pine (Coniferales Pinaceae Pinus strobus); Eastern North America
One of the largest of the pine trees, this one can grow to more than 100 feet (30.48 meters) with a straight truck up to 4 feet (1.22 meters)in width. Because this tree has long been valued by the softwood lumber industry, its natural population is much depleted.

English Yew (Taxales Taxaceae Taxus baccata); Europe
This evergreen is not a true conifer because its seeds are not found in the cones. Rather, in the summer, they develop green cone-like structures that become a fleshy, bright red, berry-like fruit in the fall. Green seeds can then be seen through the opening in the top. All parts of this tree are considered to be poisonous, but native tribes have known how to use it for various medicinal purposes.

European Larch (Coniferales Pinaceae Larix decidua); Europe
The European larch is indigenous to the Alps and from the Sudenten Mountains to the Carpathians and the Vistula Valley in Poland. Although its needle-like leaves make it appear as an evergreen, the tree is really a deciduous conifer. The leaves are also soft and turn yellow before dropping off in the fall.

Giant Sequoia (Coniferales Taxodiaceae Sequoiadendron giganteum); Southwestern North America
This tree is one of the oldest and largest life forms on Earth. There are some in California estimated to be over 3,000 years old. Their full height often exceeds 300 feet (91.44 meters). Today, it is illegal to cut them down; but, in the early days of logging, many such trees were cut and wasted. There are only about 36,000 acres (14,569 hectares) of giant sequoias left in the entire world.

Ginkgo (Gingkoales Ginkgoaceae Gingko biloba); China
Also known as the “Maidenhair tree”, the ginkgo has been cultivated for centuries in the temple gardens of China and Japan. It was reportedly introduced to North America in the late 1700s. Now a common ornamental tree, it is well-known to herbalists for its memory enhancing qualities. The ginkgo tree does not appear to have any natural fungal or insect enemies, and has been considered resistant to smoke and drought – likely another reason it has survived for the estimated 200 million years.

Golden Atlas Cedar (Coniferales Pinaceae Cedrus atlantica aurea); Northwestern Africa
This tree is actually native to the mountains of the southern and southeastern Mediterranean area and the western Himalayas. The Golden cedar is almost identical to the Blue Atlas Cedar except that its needles have a striking golden color, especially when they are exposed to bright sunlight. This can be quite a sight in winter. This tree can take ten years to reach a height of 8 feet (2.44 meters).

Grand Fir (Coniferales Pinaceae Abies grandis); Western North America
It is the largest of the fir trees, often reaching heights of 300 feet (91.44 meters). It is found mainly in forests near the ocean since it requires high atmospheric humidity. The grand fir often grows in association with many other tree species, including the Douglas fir. It is easily distinguished from other Pacific Northwest firs by its sprays of lustrous needles in two distinct rows. When crushed, these needles release an odour of citronella or oranges.

Incense Cedar (Coniferales Cupressaceae Libocedrus decurrens); Western North America
The incense cedar ranges from southern British Columbia into northern Mexico. Although not a true cedar, it is the one used most often in making cedar chests and pencils. The male cones are bright yellow and profuse at the end of the branches in late winter. The female cones resemble an urn or a duckbill. The tree has about a 500-year lifespan and is usually found in mixed coniferous forests. Although stands of young trees are killed by fire, the very thick bark protects mature trees.

Irish Juniper (Coniferales Cupressaceae Juniperus communis stricta); United Kingdom
This small, bushy, evergreen tree produces cones that look like bluish-black berries with a whitish bloom. Its seeds are dispersed by birds.

Irish Yew (Taxales Taxaceae Taxus baccata fastigiata); Ireland
The Irish yew developed as a "sport" from a normal female common yew. It was found about 1760 in the mountains above Florence Court, County Fermanagh, in Northern Ireland. It is a slow-growing tree with needle-like leaves. The cones look like reddish berries, and contain poisonous seeds. The Latin name Taxus is the ancient word for “yew”.

Japanese Cryptomeria (Coniferales Taxodiaceae Cryptomeria japonica); China and Japan
Not a true cedar, this tree is much loved in Japan as an ornamental and as a bonsai. Although it is not well-suited to North America, it does do well in the southeastern part of the US. It is a slow to medium growing tree, taking about 20 years to reach a height of 20 feet (6.1 meters). If left alone undisturbed, some have been known to reach heights of 125 feet (38.1 meters). There are some specimens in Japan that are over 650 years old.

Japanese Hybrid Larch (Coniferales Pinaceae Larix leptolepis x decidua); Japan
This particular species seems to be quite rare. There are hybrid larches and Japanese larches, but little information is available out this particular combination. The hybrid larch resulted when a conifer, which first grew in Scotland, was crossed with a Japanese larch and a European larch. What happened to the “Japanese hybrid larch” after that is unknown.

Japanese Larch (Coniferales Pinaceae Larix kaempferi); Japan
The Japanese larch is a pine that can grow to more than 70 feet (21.34 meters) in height with a spread of about 35 feet (10.67 meters). Although the Japanese beetle can be a problem for many trees, the Japanese larch usually is left untouched; but it does have its other pests, however. It can grow to be a truly handsome tree in ideal settings, making quite a statement of grace combined with strength.

Korean Pine (Coniferales Pinaceae Pinus koraiensis); Japan and Korea
The Korean Pine is native to Korea, as well as to the Amur region of China and to Japan. It can reach heights of 100 feet (30.48 meters), but does not start producing the nuts until after seven years of age. The Korean pine is a critical species for the Siberian tiger population since the nuts are a vital food source for elk, deer, and boar, which are the tiger’s main food sources. This particular pine is but one of many that supply edible seeds or “pine nuts” for both animals and humans. The Korean pine seed contains 70.3% oil, 14.8% protein, an abundance of vitamins A and E, and some essential fatty acids (oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic). (This is a good site that describes how vital the Korean pine is to the endangered Siberian tiger. This is another good site which gives the nutritional aspects of all pine nuts)

Lawson False Cypress (Coniferales Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis lawsoniana); Western North America
This species is also known as the white or Oregon cedar and ginger pine. However, the currently accepted scientific common name is Port Orford cedar. Although over 200 cultivars have been developed, there are no recognized subspecies. Making it even more rare is its overexploitation to meet demands for its highly prized aromatic wood. The vast majority of its native range have been logged, and stumps measuring more than 18 feet (5.49 meters) in diameter have been found with ages exceeding 560 years.

Lodgepole Pine (Coniferales Pinaceae Pinus contorta latifolia); Western North America
The lodgepole pine is the only conifer that is native in both Alaska and Mexico. It received its name as a result of its use by Native Americans, who found that the tall, slender trunks were ideal for their conical tents or teepees. They also used the inner bark for such things a food and medicine. Another distinguishing feature is the cones, which are strongly twisted and held closely together by a resin bond. To open so that the seeds can disperse, the cones need to be exposed to intense heat from such things as a fire or from hot, long-term, direct sunlight. Otherwise, the cones can stay on the branches for many years. The pine can have a lifespan of more than 200 years.

Macedonian Pine (Coniferales Pinaceae Pinus peuce); Balkans
The Macedonian pine is on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red list of endangered species. It is a slow-growing tree that can reach 100 feet (30.48 meters) or more. Almost all of those in Bulgaria are now protected in National Parks.

Needle Fir (Coniferales Pinaceae Abies holophylia); Southeast Asia
Native to China and Korea, the needle fir, also known as the Manchurian fir, appears to thrive in hot and humid climates when other pines cannot. Reaching upwards of 100 feet (30.48 meters), this tree grows on an average of 12-18 inches (30-46 cm) per year.

Noble Fir (Coniferales Pinaceae Abies procera); Western North America
The noble fir was named by the Scottish botanical explorer David Douglas (1798-1834). Its original Latin name was Abies nobilis, but had to be changed when it was discovered another tree already had been given this name. However, the common name has persisted because of its magnificent proportions and large, heavy cones. It is the tallest true fir and in the wild, growing to over 200 feet (61 meters) in height. The needles are similar to those of a spruce tree, over 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, with a bluish-green, silver tinge. Often the needles point upward to expose the lower surface. It has long been the most favored type of tree for the Christmas season.

Norway Spruce (Coniferales Pinaceae Picea abies); Central and Northern Europe
The Norway spruce is one of the most important species on the European continent. It is one of the fastest growing, often reaching heights of more than 200 feet (61 meters). However, in the western hemisphere, it seldom reaches more than 130 feet (39.62 meters). Although sometimes confused with true firs (Abies), spruces most often have several differences: the needles are rectangular rather than flat; the cones hang down rather than stand erect on the stem; and, the cones fall from the tree after seeds are disseminated, whereas fir cones disintegrate. In addition, the cones are the largest of any spruce species, reaching a length of up to 7 inches (17.8 cm). Male and female flowers are found on the same tree and are produced in late spring.

Oriental Arbor-Vitae (Coniferales Cupressaceae Thuja orientalis); China and Korea
This cypress tree is regarded as an ornimental conifer with its low branching habit providing good ground cover for a variety of small animals. The plants belonging to this species are small, slow-growing, conical or ovoid trees or shrubs. In China, some specimens have lived more than 1000 years and have long been used as a source of medicines.

Oriental Spruce (Coniferales Pinaceae Picea orientalis); Turkey and Caucasus
Not as hardy as the Norway spruce, the Oriental spruce does require sheltered location and can suffer injury from severe winters. It is one of the last spruces to break bud in the spring. The needles are very short and closely packed all around the twigs. Although it can reach heights of 120 feet (36.6 meters), cultivated trees usually grow to half that. Male flowers appear in the spring and are a bright brick red, appearing in spring.

Pacific Silver Fir (Coniferales Pinaceae Abies amabilis); Western North America
The natural range of this tree is from the southern tip of Alaska to the northern tip of California. It prefers cool, wet regions, especially the coastal fog belt and interior mountain valleys, as well as coniferous forests. The common name refers to the silvery lower surface of the foliage. The word "Pacific" is added to avoid confusion with another silver fir native to Europe. David Douglas (1798-1834), the Scottish botanical explorer and discoverer of this species, named it amabilis, meaning "lovely." Although beautiful when young, this tree does not attain a pleasing shape as it grows older – much like humans.

Ponderosa Pine (Coniferales Pinaceae Pinus ponderosa); Western North America
The ponderosa pine was so named because of its “ponderous” size and its longevity of up to 500 years. It is the only native British Columbia pine with bundles of three needles. The bark and cones have long been used for quick, hot fires. Wolf lichen grows on the trunks and dead branches. Lichens are not mosses, but are a combination of at least two organisms and help trees by absorbing chemicals in the air. Although most lichens can be used for food, wolf lichen is poisonous and used in Russia to kill wolves.

Port Orford Cedar (Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis lawsonia x glauca); SW Oregon and NW California The Port Orford cedar is native to a 200-mile stretch of coastal mountains found mainly in southern Oregon, but stretching into northern California and named after a town in southwest Oregon. It was first discovered in 1851 and seedlings sent back to Scotland in 1854 to the Lawson family who cultivated an extensive nursery of trees, forming some 150 named varieties of conifers. Consequently, it soon acquired the name of the blue Lawson or Lawson cypress. These true seeds immediately produced a variation named Erecta viridis, which have been producing variations ever since – to the point where the Port Orford cedar is considered the most variable conifer in the world with more than 250 named forms. The Port Orford cedar is one of the white-cedars in a group of false-cypresses; 3 native to the US and 4 from Japan and Taiwan. The record tree stands in Siskiyou, Oregon. It is about 219 feet high with a diameter of twelve feet and may be 700 years old. The wood is a yellowish white, sometimes tinged with red and has a bitter ginger taste. This unique scent is the result of a volatile oil, which can be overpowering and continued exposure to this aroma is known to cause kidney problems. The wood has been in great demand and used for anything from the Hawaiian Presidential Palace to Japanese Buddhist temples, California gold mine timbers, and building construction. It was also used for such high quality boats as Sir Thomas Lipton’s Shamrock series of 100’ (30.5 m) racing sailboats, built as challengers for the Americas Cup just prior to World War I. In China and Japan, the wood was in great demand for coffins, and for temple construction because of its close relationship to Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) which is thought to have a spiritual nature. In its native habitat, the Port Orford cedar is found along streams, bogs, and other wet areas in most of its range. It is an important component of these riparian zones as the long lasting wood provides persistent structure for fish, amphibians, and other aquatic organisms.

Red Pine (Coniferales Pinaceae Pinus resinosa); Eastern North America
This pine received its common name from the fact that its young scaly bark is a distinct orangey-red. As it matures, this fades to a reddish-brown. Its Latin name points to its resin-retaining properties in both the winter buds and the wood. Songbirds, chipmunks, and other small animals feed on the seeds. The red pine is also a popular choice for reforestation since it grows rapidly, especially after a fire.

Redwood (Coniferales Cupressaceae Sequoia sempervirens); Pacific Coast of North America
A member of the Cypress family that contains only this one species, the name sequoia is from the Cherokee Indian chief Sequoyah while sempervirens is the Latin word for always green. Although Sequoia sempervirens have been cultivated elsewhere, it grows best in only one place in the world; a 450-mile (724-km) strip along the Pacific Coast of North America, beginning in southern Oregon and ending just south of Monterey, California. The oldest verified redwood tree is at least 2,200 years of age, but foresters believe that some may be much older. The coastal redwoods are the tallest living species on Earth, often reaching heights of 300-350 feet (91-107 m) and diameters of 16-18 feet (4.9-5.5 m). Today, there are only 15 known living trees more than 110 m (361 feet) tall and are now growing along the California coast. Redwoods are a hydrostatic marvel. They can siphon water upward to great heights, fighting gravity and friction. During the dry summers, they can create their own rain by condensing heavy fog into drenching showers that provide welcome moisture to the roots below. In addition, scientists believe that redwoods take in much of their water directly from the air, through their needles and through canopy roots which the trees sprout on their branches. Moisture from fog is thought to provide 30% to 40% of a redwood's water supply.

Sawara False Cypress (Coniferales Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis pisifera); Japan
Native to southern Japan and Taiwan, this tree is also known as the Japanese false cypress. In Kiso, Japan, it is considered to be one of the five sacred trees. It grows very slowly in a pot, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) a year; but in the wild, can reach a height of over 100 feet (30.48 meters).

Scots Pine (Coniferales Pinaceae Pinus sylvestris); Europe
The Scots pine, or as older literature states, The Scotch Pine, is the most widely distributed conifer in the world. Although over 100 varieties have been described, only three or four are now accepted. It is the only pine native to northern Europe, with a range stretching from beyond the Arctic Circle to eastern Siberia and down into Spain. In the British Isles, it is now native only in Scotland. Because of over-exploitation in other areas, it has had to be re-introduced. The Scots pine usually grows at elevations from sea level to 2,400 metres (8,000 feet), with the elevation generally increasing from north to south. A distinguishing feature is its needles with a blue-green color and long length, making it a popular Christmas tree in North America. In some areas, it is listed as an invasive species. The needles yield a medicinal oil, pitch, tars, resin, and turpentines, obtained from the wood. The Scots pine is excellent for wildlife, attracting lichens, insects, and such birds as the golden eagle, osprey, goshawk, siskin, great spotted woodpecker, great crested tit, and crossbill. In Scotland, the wryneck and capercaille can be found living in some pine woods. Red squirrels are particularly fond of the cones and seeds of the Scots pine.

Shore Pine (Coniferales Pinaceae Pinus contorta contorta); Western North America
The Latin name refers to its twisted and “contorted” branching habit. The tree produces needles that come in pairs and small, prickly cones. Closely related to the lodgepole pine, the shore pine does have some differences. It is very hardy and can grow in almost any type of soil, but it does prefer boggy conditions, whereas the lodgepole does not. The shore pine grows only to about 50 feet (15.24 meters) or less. Depending on the conditions, it can reach 400 years of age.

Silver Fir (Coniferales Pinaceae Abies alba); Europe
Native to the mountains of southern and central Europe, it is also found in Byelorussia, Asia, and the Caucasus Mountains. It does prefer fresh, moist soils in higher altitudes. It was given its name because it appears to have a silvery color when seen from below. The oldest tree was discovered in 1952 in Germany and estimated to be 411 years old. However, this is rare.

Sitka Spruce (Coniferales Pinaceae Picea sitchensis); Western North America
The Sitka spruce is the tallest conifer in North America, and likely in the world. It commonly grows up to 180 feet (54.86 meters), with diameter.of at least a 3-5 feet (0.9 -1.5 meters) Its estimated lifespan is about 700 to 800 years. The record holder for Canada is a 290-foot (88.39-meter) specimen located on Vancouver Island. The Sitka Spruce occurs along the Pacific coast, from Alaska to the southern US. Because of its high moisture requirements, the Sitka spruce occurs in the fog belt and along inlets and streams and prefers moist, well-drained soils. Some coastal peoples ate the raw inner bark or the raw young shoots as a source of vitamin C, but it can also act as a laxative.

Subalpine Fir (Coniferales Pinaceae Abies lasiocarpa); Western North America
This particular fir thrives just below the timberline in mountain forests of western North America from the Yukon and southern Alaska through to New Mexico. Interestingly, there are no true firs on the Queen Charlotte Islands. The Latin name means “hairy-fruited”, which refers to their cones. The pollen cones are bluish, but the seed cones are deep purple and grow upright at the top of the crown. Like the cones of the other firs, they disintegrate on the tree, leaving a central spike. Their “spire-like” crowns are a distinguishing feature. To form new shoots, the lower branches take root while they are weighted down with snow. Both large and small animals depend on this tree for their survival.

Weeping Giant Sequoia (Taxales Taxodiaceae Sequoiadendron giganteum ‘Pendulum’); Sierra Nevada Mountains
The Latin name, Sequoiadendron, is a genus in the Baldcypress family and named in honor of Sequoiah (1770-1843), the son of a British merchant and a Cherokee woman, who became a Cherokee chief and created an alphabet for his people's language. Dendron is from the Greek word for tree. The Sequoia is an ancient conifer that once shared the landscape with dinosaurs. At one time they were found worldwide; but today, there are only 18 species (in 10 genera) that remain, confined to North America, eastern Asia, and Tasmania. Known as the largest living thing in the world, the young Sequoias (under 1,000 years of age) can reach hundreds of feet in height with a 30-foot trunk diameter. The weeping giant sequoia, often called the Dr. Seuss tree, can grow to ten feet with a three-foot trunk in ten years and forty feet high at maturity. No two ever grow alike. Its gray-green needles form into dense foliage. The bark is reddish-brown and similar to that of the coast redwood. One of the most animate of all trees, the trunk can be straight, but more often twists or leans in one or more directions with no predictable fashion, thus forming a living sculpture.

Western Hemlock (Coniferales Pinaceae Tsuga heterophylia); Western North America
The hemlock received its name from those who recognized the scent of the crushed needles as being similar to a European weed. The western hemlock, however, is not related to poison-hemlock weed which killed Socrates. Its Latin names come from the Japanese word for "tree" and "mother" (tsu-ga) and the Greek word for "different leaves" (heterophylla). The range of this tree extends along the Pacific coast from Alaska to northern California, mainly because it requires much water. Because it has a shallow root system, it is one of the first to suffer damage from wind and forest fires. It regenerates by natural seeding. Seedlings are commonly found on rotten logs or decomposed stumps. One of these trees can reach heights of nearly 200 feet (61meters) and live to be 500 years old. However, the normal lifespan is usually only from 80 to 100 years.

Western Larch (Coniferales Pinaceae Larix occidentalis); Western North America
Also known as a tamarack, the western larch is the tallest of the larch species, reaching heights in excess of 200 feet (61meters). It has been know to live as long as 1,000 years, but few are allowed to do so anymore. The one disadvantage to their great height is that they can become easy targets for lightning. The larch species also contain an essential sugar which resembles slightly bitter honey in taste, but does have medicinal value. The bark can be quite thick, especially in old-growth where it can be up to 6 inches (15.24 cm) thick. The larch differs from firs and pines in that it sheds its needles in the fall and remains tall and straight throughout the winter, but totally “naked”. Although the larch requires a good deal of moisture, it rarely grows in fog belts. You can find more information on this excellent site.

Western Red Cedar (Coniferales Cupressaceae Thuja plicata); Western North America
Also know as the giant arbor-vitae (“tree of life”), the western red cedar is found mainly along the west coast of North America and is the “official” tree of British Columbia. The “red” comes from the pinkish-brown heartwood and its characteristic cedar odour. A very large tree, it can reach heights off 200 feet (61meters), with the trunk often spreading out widely at the base. It can live for as much as 1,000 years. The cedar has a large number of cones that bend backwards along the branches. It has a unique resistance to decay and insect damage, with their wood remaining sound for over 100 years. It is this wood that was used mostly by Native Americans for such things as totem poles and dugout canoes. In fact, one of these canoes is on display at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa.

White Fir (Coniferales Pinaceae Abies concolor); Western North America
The native range of the white fir extends from the mountains along the Pacific coast to northern Mexico. It can reach heights of more than 120 feet (36.58 meters). The bluish-green needles curve upwards on the twigs and give off a pleasant citronella scent when crushed. It is the most beautiful of all firs, often used in landscaping and for Christmas trees.

Yellow Cypress (Coniferales Cupressaceae Chamaecyparis nootkatensis); Western North America
The yellow cypress is also known by many other names, including Nootka false-cypress, Alaska-cypress, Sitka-cypress, yellow-cypress, Alaska-cedar, and Alaska yellow-cedar, although the false cypress is not a cedar. The “nootka” name refers to Nootka Sound on the west side of Vancouver Island, where it was first identified. The bark is typical of the cedar in that it is very resistant to decay and insects and has a distinctive scent. The bark can smell like potato skins.

See the Arboretum description.
See the Deciduous Trees