Chinese thuja
Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco
Platycladus is a monotypic genus of coniferous trees in the cypress family Cupressaceae, containing only one species, Platycladus orientalis, the Chinese thuja, Oriental arborvitae, Chinese arborvitae, biota or Oriental thuja.
No ratings yet — be the first!
Gallery
Chinese thujaChinese thuja
Chinese thuja
Chinese thuja
Chinese thuja
Chinese thuja
Chinese thujaChinese thujaChinese thujaOverview
Platycladus is a monotypic genus of coniferous trees in the cypress family Cupressaceae, containing only one species, Platycladus orientalis, the Chinese thuja, Oriental arborvitae, Chinese arborvitae, biota or Oriental thuja. It is native to northeastern parts of East Asia and North Asia, but is also now naturalised as an introduced species in other regions of the Asian continent.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productSeed & germination
Ripe **seed** is collected and sown fresh or stored dry; germination is best on a moist, well-drained seedbed.
Seedling & growth
Young plants gain height, branch and build a stable canopy in their first growing season.
Flowering
In season the plant opens **yellow-brown reproductive cones, March–April**, adding colour and nectar for insects.
Fruiting & harvest
Fruit ripens and seed is collected for propagation; **leafy twigs collected in autumn–winter**.
Habitat & conservation
It is native to northeastern parts of East Asia and North Asia, but is also now naturalised as an introduced species in other regions of the Asian continent.
Conservation
Chinese thuja has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List (NE). As a medicinal plant, it benefits from sustainable collection and propagation to protect wild genetic resources.
References
- 1Wikipedia – Platycladus — Wikipedia,
- 2Kew POWO – Platycladus orientalis — Plants of the World Online (Kew),
- 3Wikidata – Q6078218 — Wikidata,