Northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis) is also called eastern white-cedar, arborvitae, and swamp-cedar. The name arborvitae or "tree of life" dates from the 16th century when the French explorer Cartier learned from the Indians how to use the tree's foliage to treat scurvy.The rot- and termite-resistant wood is used principally for products in contact with water and soil.
 
The main range of northern white-cedar extends through the southern part of the eastern half of Canada and the adjacent northern part of the United States. It grows in both pure and mixed stands, mostly in swamps but also on uplands.