Eastern white cedar

The species is monoecious, meaning that male and female flowers grow on the same tree but in separate structures.

The small, yellowish male flowers are found at the tips of the twigs. The female flowers are pale green and less conspicuous, later developing into cones. These oval cones measure about 1 cm in length and turn light brown when mature.

The tree flowers in spring, between April and May, depending on the region. The cones ripen by late summer or fall, releasing small, winged seeds that—like the pollen—are dispersed by the wind.

The eastern white cedar reproduces by seed, but it can also propagate naturally through layering. When a low branch or twig comes into contact with moist soil, adventitious roots develop at the point of contact. This type of reproduction occurs most often in shaded or wet environments.