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W.J. Beal Botanical Garden’s Spartan Tree Stories

10. The 1865 White Cedars

Thuja occidentalis

One hundred and fifty white cedar seedlings were planted on the MSU campus north of the Red Cedar River in 1865. Several of these are still standing, including this beautiful white cedar, which has achieved the strip bark growth form.

 - Dr. Frank W. Telewski
Retired, Director of W. J. Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum
Professor Emeritus, Department of Plant Biology

White cedars

Strip bark growth form indicates old age.

White cedars