Alaska-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), also known as Alaska yellow-cedar, yellow-cedar, Alaska cypress, and Nootka cypress, is an important timber species of northwestern America. It is found along the Pacific coast in Alaska and British Columbia, in the Cascade Range of Oregon and Washington, and at a number of isolated locations. It is confined to a cool, humid climate. Toward the south, Alaska-cedar rarely grows below 600 m (2,000 ft) in elevation; but north of midcoastal British Columbia, it grows from sea level to tree line. It is one of the slowest growing conifers in the Northwest. The wood is extremely durable and is excellent for specititley uses. Little effort is being made to manage the species to assure a continuing supply.

Alaska-cedar grows from northern California to Prince William Sound, AK Except for a few isolated stands, it is found within 160 km (100 miles) of the Pacific coast. Isolated stands in the Siskiyou Mountains, CA, near the Oregon border mark its southern limit. In Oregon and Washington, Alaska-cedar grows in the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains; scattered populations are found in the Coast Ranges and in the Aldrich Mountains of central Oregon. In British Columbia and north to Wells Bay in Prince William Sound, AK, it grows in a narrow strip on the islands and coastal mainland. An exception in British Columbia is an isolated stand near Slocan Lake about 720 km (450 mi) inland. Alaska-cedar is notable within the cypress family for its tolerance of cool and wet conditions. The climate of its natural range is cool and humid. Climatic conditions at elevations where Alaska-cedar grows in the Cascade Range of Washington are somewhat comparable to those at sea level in coastal Alaska. Growing seasons are short.

The various physical properties of the wood make it an attractive material for both general construction and boat building. Due to its slow growth it is hard and, like other cypress woods it is durable; it therefore offers good dimensional stability, and is resistant to weather, insects, and contact with soil. It works easily with hand or machine tools; it turns and carves quite well. It can be fastened with glues, screws, and nails. Nootka Cypress's texture, uniform color, and straight grain will take a fine finish. It resists splintering and wears smoothly over time. When fresh cut it has a somewhat unpleasant bitter scent, but when seasoned it has barely any discernable scent, hence its traditional use in ceremonial masks. Native American canoe paddles, dishes, and bows were made from the wood.

Due to its expense, Alaska-cedar is used mainly for finished carpentry. Typical uses include exterior siding, shingles, decking, exposed beams, glue-laminated beams, paneling, cabinetry, and millwork. In historic preservation it can be used as a substitute for Western Redcedar and Baldcypress, due to current difficulties in obtaining quality timber of those species due to environmental concern and past over-exploitation, although this applies equally to Nootka Cypress.

Associated Forest Cover
Alaska-cedar occasionally grows in pure stands but is usually found singly or in scattered groups mixed with other tree species. Associated species change with latitude. In California, Alaska-cedar may be found with California red fir (Abies magnifica), Brewer spruce (Picea breweriana), incense-cedar (Libocedrus decurrens), Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia), and western white pine (Pinus monticola); in Oregon and Washington, with mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana), subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis), noble fir (Abies procera), western white pine, and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla); in British Columbia, with Pacific silver fir, western white pine, western redcedar (Thuja plicata), mountain hemlock, western hemlock, and shore pine (Pinus contorta); in Alaska, with western redcedar, western hemlock, mountain hemlock, Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), and shore pine.

Shrubs commonly associated with Alaska-cedar in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia are: big whortleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum), ovalleaf whortleberry (V. ovalifolium), Alaska blueberry (V. alaskaense), rustyleaf menziesia (Menziesia ferruginea), Cascades azalea (Rhododendron albiflorum), and copperbush (Cladothamnus pyroliflorus). These shrubs, except Rhododendron albiflorum and Vaccinium membranaceum, are associates in Alaska as well. Other plant associates include fiveleaf bramble (Rubus pedatus), bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), queenscup (Clintonia uniflora), ferny goldthread (Coptis asplenifolia), deerfern (Blechnum spicant), claspleaf twistedstalk (Streptopus amplexifolius), rosy twistedstalk (S. roseus), and skunkcabbage (Lysichitum americanum).

Flowering and Fruiting- Alaska-cedar is monoecious. Flowering occurs from April in the southern part of the range to June in the north. The tiny inconspicuous yellow or reddish male pollen-bearing strobili and green female cones are borne on the tips of branchlets. Pollination occurs from mid-April to late May in cones that were initiated the previous summer. Cones generally mature in 2 years, but in the southern part of the range they may mature in I year. Both first- and second-year cones occur on the same branch and may easily be confused. Mature cones are about 12 mm (0.5 in) in diameter and globe-shaped. Mature and immature cones are nearly the same size, so care must be taken to collect only mature cones for seed. Immature cones are green and soft, often with purple markings, and are home near the tips of branchlets. Mature cones are yellow-green and hard, often with brown markings, and are borne farther from the branch tips.

Most Alaska-cedar timber has come from logging mixed old-growth stands in which the species is a minor component. Because of its slow rate of growth in relation to other commercial species, there has been little interest in management of Alaska-cedar for timber on the more productive sites. It may be well suited for planting on cold, wet sites, however, especially at high elevations where other species are less likely to thrive. It survives heavy snow loads because of its narrow, flexible crown and drooping branches, and its flexibility allows it to survive on avalanche tracks. Interest in management of Alaska-cedar is relatively new, and information on growth and yield of young stands is not available. Volume tables are available for old-growth trees.

Damaging Agents- Alaska-cedar is relatively free from damage by insects. No infestations of defoliating insects are known (1). Both Phloeosinus sp. and the bark-boring, round-headed beetles of the genus Atimia are often found under the bark of dead, dying, or weakened trees and occasionally on healthy trees. Phloeosinus cupressi is a secondary agent that only attacks trees in advanced stages of decline. A total of 78 taxa of fungi have been reported on Alaska-cedar throughout its range, including 50 in Alaska. The wood, however, is very durable and resistant to fungal attack, partly because of naturally occurring chemicals-nootkatin, chamic acid, and chaminic acid-in the heartwood that inhibit fungal growth at low concentrations. Certain "black-stain" fungi are capable of degrading nootkatin, thereby increasing the susceptibility of the heartwood to decay. Living trees often attain great age, and over time heart-rotting fungi cause considerable loss and defect in standing trees.