Port Orford Cedar
Port Orford Cedar is recognizable by a tall aromatic conifer with flattened sprays, tiny scale leaves, and small round cones.
Artwork inspired by Charles Heaney
Port Orford Cedar grows in wet forests and stream valleys of southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. Its tall crown, aromatic flattened sprays, tiny scale leaves, and small round cones should be checked together against other cedars and cypresses.
A lethal root pathogen travels in contaminated soil and water, making clean boots, tires, and equipment part of identification ethics. Use fallen foliage or cones for close study and never collect seedlings, bark, or living boughs.
- Primary range
- Oregon
- Habitat
- wet forests
- Status
- Locally threatened by a lethal root pathogen spread in contaminated
Quick guide
- Initial check
- A tall aromatic conifer with flattened sprays, tiny scale leaves, and small round cones
- Context cue
- wet forests and stream valleys of southwestern Oregon and northwestern California
A low-impact field sequence for Port Orford Cedar
- Begin with form
- Begin with A tall aromatic conifer with flattened sprays, tiny scale leaves, and small round cones.
- Require another mark
- Confirm “wet forests and stream valleys of southwestern Oregon and northwestern California”.
- Place the observation
- Pair “wet forests and stream valleys of southwestern Oregon and northwestern California” with “Evergreen year-round; cones mature in autumn”.
- Protect subject and habitat
- Read Port Orford Cedar from crown to ground and use naturally fallen material rather than stripping bark, buds, leaves, or branches.
Good to know
A lethal root pathogen spreads between Port Orford Cedar stands in contaminated soil and water. Remove mud from boots, tires, and tools before and after a visit, avoid driving through puddles near roots, and never move seedlings or living boughs.
Notice these
- A tall aromatic conifer with flattened sprays, tiny scale leaves, and small round cones
- wet forests and stream valleys of southwestern Oregon and northwestern California
- Evergreen year-round; cones mature in autumn