Tsuga mertensiana, also known as the North American mountain hemlock, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, found between central southern Alaska and central southern California. Cedar is a large evergreen coniferous tree that can grow up to 20 to 40 meters in height, with special individuals reaching up to 59 meters in height. Their trunk diameter is as high as 2 meters. The bark is about 3 centimeters thick, with square cracks or wrinkles, and a color ranging from purple brown to gray. The crown of young trees is a neat, slender cone shape, with slanting or drooping lead buds, while the crown of old trees becomes cylindrical. At all ages, it is characterized by slightly drooping tips of small branches.