Chris Lewis wrote:
According to Rob :


I have seen the specimen tree called the Atlas Cedar you mention in
specialized landscapes, but it is very rare in the US since it is not a
native species. Technically, there are no native cedars in the eastern US.


Eastern white cedar makes it down to the north eastern states. It's
a true cedar (unlike eastern red cedar which is really a juniper) and
native to North America.

See http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/si...cidentalis.htm

We have _lots_ of it on our property, about two hours drive north of the border.

It's great kindling for starting up hardwoods in the fireplace.

It's lighter, whiter, softer and more splintery than western red cedar, but
can be used in much the same way. Supposedly, it's better for making canoes
than western red.

It's locally available as lumber, but there's not a great deal of demand
because the trees usually don't get that big, and decent heartwood lumber
is much more difficult to come by in the larger sizes. So most cedar lumber
available for sale here is western red. Eastern white is mostly used as
rural rail fencing (in the round).


I'm familiar with the tree you describe as it grows here and it is
called arborvitae here. Not to be technical but it also is not a true
cedar, just a species that is mis-named as a "cedar".

Rob