Native to the west coast of the United States of America where it grows in canyons below 1500 m, it is also known as white cedar, Oregon cedar, or Lawson’s false cypress.

A medium-growing, evergreen tree that can reach up to 35 m in height; it blossoms between April and June and its seeds ripen between September and October. It is a monoecious species, which means that the male and female flowers grow separately but on the same tree. The female flowers are clustered in small 1 cm blue-green spheres; the male flowers produce a large amount of pollen, which can trigger allergies. They are wind-pollinated and favour well-draining soils, but are tolerant to more compacted clay soils, drought, maritime exposure, intense winds, and atmospheric pollution. These trees thrive in woodlands in partial shade or full sun.