FNPS Plant Database
Chamaecyparis thyoides
Nomenclature
Common Name:
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Family:
Cupressaceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
Size:
Life Span:
Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
Fruit Color:
Phenology:
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Considerations:
Availability:
Propagation:
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry
â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡
Stays wet -to- Somewhat moist, no flooding
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Unknown
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.
Soil or Other Substrate:
Sand, Organic
Soil pH:
Suitable to Grow In:
8A,8B,9A,9B
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.
Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.
Ecology
Wildlife:
Provides cover for birds and mammals.
Attracts deer and squirrels. Deer browse can be so intense as to limit survival of saplings.
Native Habitats:
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Citations:
Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell. (1999). Native Florida Plants. Gulf Publishing Company. Houston, TX.
Huegel, Craig N. (2010). Native Plant Landscaping for Florida Wildlife. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
Little, S. (1959). Silvical characteristics of Atlantic white-cedar ( Chamaecyparis thyoides ). Station Paper NE-118. ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/13704 ). Accessed U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, Upper Darby, PA.
Natural Resources Conservation Service. (2006). PLANTS Database: Atlantic White Cedar. ( https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_chth2.pdf ). Accessed 2026. United States Department of Agriculture.
Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
University of Tennessee Extension Service. (2010). Desired pH Range and salt tolerance of common nursery plants. ( https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/10/Desired-pH-Range-List.pdf ). Accessed 2025. University of Tennessee Extension, Knoxville.
Watkins, John and Thomas Sheehan. (1975). Florida Landscape Plants, Native and Exotic. University Presses of Florida, Gainesville.
Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.
