The Cypress Trees (Yellow Cedar) is a medium-sized tree that can reach average heights of 24 m or more, it has a broad, trunk that has vertical grooves. Cedars, both red and yellow, usually spread out widely at the base. The crown is sharply cone-shaped, with branches that spread out.
The needles are scale-like, dark bluish-green, slender, and sharp. Cones are round, up to 12 mm in diameter, berry-like in the first year but becoming woody as they mature. On young trees, the bark is thin, grayish-brown and on mature trees, it has narrow intersecting ridges. It is common on the west coast and all of Vancouver Island. It can be found on the whole coast of BC.
Cypress trees grow well in deep moist soils, usually as single trees but sometimes in small groups. It is common in old-growth stands at low elevations in the mid or north-coastal regions alongside western hemlock and western red cedar.
Although Cypress Trees can get big, a few can be giants and Vancouver Island has the world’s largest yellow cedar. It is in the big tree creek area up along cooper creek, its name is Admiral Broeren. This tree is massive, it makes you feel very small when you are up close to it.
I saw this tree last year when i was out deer hunting in the area , it really is a very impressive sight and thanks to whoever had the wisdom to leave this stand of old growth intact . The side road into it is a little rough but very doable and well worth the drive .