Western Red Cedar is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 10 and shrugs off deer.
Zones
4-10
pH Range
5.1-7.1
Sun
Shade
Days to Maturity
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Score Western Red Cedar on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether western red cedar actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score western red cedar against your land's real conditions.
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See Western Red Cedar
What Western Red Cedar is
Western Red Cedar grows as a perennial and reaches around 60 feet at maturity. It blooms in mid spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar grows in USDA zones 4 through 10. Western Red Cedar does best in shade — at least 2 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.1 to 7.1. It needs about 800 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
4-10
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.1 - 7.1
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Shade
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-33°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
60 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
800+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set western red cedar in shade with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Western Red Cedar prefers pH 5.1 to 7.1 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — western red cedar isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Western Red Cedar isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Western Red Cedar thrives
Western Red Cedar is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 10. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 4–10·Where Western Red Cedar growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Western Red Cedar can grow in these states:
See if Western Red Cedar will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether western red cedar actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Western Red Cedar in my zone?
Western Red Cedar grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 10 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Western Red Cedar?
Set western red cedar out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Western Red Cedar need?
Western Red Cedar is shade-tolerant — it gets by on as little as 2 hours of direct sun, so it earns a place most vegetables can't use. A north-facing strip or the ground under a leafy canopy is right where it belongs. A Growable Ground report shows which corners of your land stay shaded through the day, turning those dim spots into planting spots.
What soil does Western Red Cedar need?
Western Red Cedar prefers soil pH 5.1 to 7.1 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Western Red Cedar attract pollinators?
Western Red Cedar isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Western Red Cedar safe for pets?
Western Red Cedar is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.