Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Northern White Cedar

Thuja occidentalis

Typically in season from January to December in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland, Wetland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

Photo: (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · iNaturalist

When Northern White Cedar is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Northern White Cedar is usually found in Woodland, Wetland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Deadly look-alikes: European yew, Canada yew, Eastern red cedar. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Northern White Cedar into the field

Open Northern White Cedar in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Northern White Cedar: common questions

When is Northern White Cedar in season?

Northern White Cedar is generally in season from January to December in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Northern White Cedar grow?

Northern White Cedar is usually found in Woodland, Wetland.

Is Northern White Cedar safe to forage?

Deadly look-alikes: European yew, Canada yew, Eastern red cedar. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits