Leaf Identification
The leaves of the American Arborvitae are scale-like and aromatic. They appear in flattened sprays and are a yellowish-green to green. As an evergreen, the leaves stay attached all year. A structure called a branchlet blends in with the leaves and is further explained in the Twig and Bud Identification section.
Twig and Bud Identification
The twigs of the American Arborvitae are green when young eventually turning a grayish-brown. The American Arborvitae also has a special kind of twig called a branchlet. The branchlets are green, scale-like, and hold the actual leaves. It is hard to visually determine what is a branchlet and what is a leaf. Sometimes the twigs are called persistent branchlets, and the branchlets are called deciduous branchlets. The buds of the actual leaves are too tiny to see and are completely covered by leaves.
Bark Identification
The Eastern Arborvitae has grayish-brown to reddish-brown bark which will exfoliate on mature branches and the trunk of older trees. It forms long, vertical furrows.
Cone Identification
The mature cone of the American Arborvitae are oval, reddish-brown open cones with 6 to 12 overlapping, thin scales. Each scale bears 1 to 2 small seeds with a pair of narrow lateral wings. The cones have a small spine at the tip. The staminate cones are small, inconspicuous, and are located at the tips of the twigs. The ovulate cones are solitary, around 1/2″ long, egg-shaped, and green. They also have several small, undeveloped wings.
Cedar ID Tips
- The American Arborvitae is closely related to North American cedars, and can also be mistaken for other members of the cypress family with scale-like leaves, such as junipers. Most cedars are confined to the West Coast, but junipers are more broadly distributed across the continent.
- When cones are on the tree, they can be very useful in identifying a cedar. Unlike cedars, the cones of junipers appear like larger, firmer blueberries (although inedible). Cedar cones are brown, open, and layered. Cypress cones are closed, which distinguishes them from the American Arborvitae. The American Arborvitae is the only cypress member in central North America to have an open, brown cone when mature.
- If the tree is cultivated, it may be tricky to identify the American Arborvitae from Western cedars or the Atlantic White-cedar. The American Arborvitae does have its leaves arranged in flat, upright or horizontal sprays. Most other cedars will have three-dimensional leaf arrangements, or have hanging sprays if flat.