Tree Information

Common Name: northern white-cedar

Scientific Name: Thuja occidentalis

Native/Naturalized: Native to Virginia

Database ID: 669

Status: alive

National Champion: no

Virginia Champion: yes

Trunk Girth: 183 in.

Tree Height: 76 ft.

Crown Spread: 30 ft.

Points: 267

Date Last Measured: 2025

Last Measured by: Eric Wiseman and John Peterson

Date First Measured: 2006

Comments:
2025 comments: This is one of two large Thuja documented by Virginia Big Trees on this property. A large population of mature Thuja are found in this floodplain habitat that is bordered by a limestone bluff exceeding 50 feet in height. Numerous Thuja are growing in the floodplain as well as clinging to the bluff. Several springs and seeps emerge from the bluff and feed into the creek, giving it a crystal-clear aqua-blue appearance. Based on the NRCS Soil Survey, the geology here is sedimentary colluvium of sandstone and shale intermixed with alluvium of limestone. Other plant species cohabiting the site included Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana, Ostrya virginiana, Quercus muehlenbergii, and Viburnum acerifolium. All of these characteristics suggest that the site is a Thuja occidentalis Appalachian Limestone Cliff Woodland Alliance based on the US National Vegetation Classification.
A single stem specimen with a pronounced trunk flare and hollow in the base of the trunk. The central leader of the tree was broken out decades ago and only a gnarly stub 10' to 12' in length remains. A large vertical crack extends down the trunk from the base of the dead central leader. After loss of the central leader, two lateral branches developed into codominant leaders reaching to the sky like upstretched arms. One of those leaders has now also died and only a 20' stub remains of it. Therefore the entire crown comprises growth on the remaining leader that stretches toward the creek and extends over a smaller Thuja next to it. The crown is small, but the foliage is lush and free of disease. There are two large burls on opposite sides of the trunk. The measuring tape was positioned to avoid those burls and wrap tightly around unswollen trunk.

2016 comments: There are two large arbovitae at this location. This is the smaller of the two. Top has been broken out but the tree is healthy. The measurements by Ward Robens and Jeff Kirwan were 189", 93', and 23' for a total of 288 points.