How big does Western red cedar grow?

About 5 m × 2 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 15–30 m × 4.5–9 m.

What soil does Western red cedar grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, acidic, calcareous.

Is Western red cedar hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Western red cedar be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Western red cedar be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 70 cm between plants. For a hedge, allow 1.5 plants per metre.

How much water does Western red cedar need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

How much does Western red cedar cost?

It sells for roughly €3 to €290 in local shops, depending on size.

Western red cedar

Thuja plicata

Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is a hedge plant that reaches 5 m × 2 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €3.

Illustration of Western red cedar — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A fast-growing evergreen with glossy dark green, scale-like foliage that smells of pineapple when crushed. For hedges it is mostly planted as the cultivars Atrovirens, Excelsa and Martin: it takes clipping well, quickly forms a dense, tall wall and tolerates part shade, but it needs trimming at least once a year, because left alone it becomes a tree of 15 to 30 metres. It wants moist, fertile, well-drained soil and regular watering and copes badly with dry soil, drying winds and hot, baking positions. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Watch out for

Western red cedar is not exempt from the problems that are killing white cedar hedges (such as Smaragd) in Central Europe. The juniper jewel beetle (Lamprodila festiva) attacks the whole genus Thuja: its larvae tunnel under the bark, single branches suddenly turn brown and die, and oval exit holes are left in the bark; once the larvae are under the bark there is no effective treatment. Most damage so far has been recorded on white cedar, but the beetle mainly goes for plants weakened by drought, hard pruning or sun-exposed trunks, and western red cedar is distinctly poor at coping with drought and heat, so in hot, dry summers without watering it is just as much at risk. On wet, heavy soil Phytophthora root and collar rot kills it, and the foliage can be browned by cedar leaf blight (Didymascella thujina), especially in dense, damp hedges. Plant it only where the soil stays moist and regular summer watering is possible; a mixed hedge is safer than a long hedge of this one species.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 5 m × 2 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Hedge
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	5 m × 2 m
Ultimate size	15–30 m × 4.5–9 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Acidic, Calcareous
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	70 cm
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Toxic (uncertain)
For children	Toxic
Typical price	from about €3

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
20-40 cm	approx. €5
20-30 cm	approx. €10
30-35 cm	approx. €11
180-200 cm	approx. €290
size not stated	approx. €14 – €23

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Hedge plants Evergreen hedge plants Plants for screening Evergreen plants Fragrant plants

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

Compare with similar plants

Western red cedar vs Arborvitae Western red cedar vs Emerald Green arborvitae Western red cedar vs Leyland cypress

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