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THE WEDDING FLOWER NOTES

Cedar for Weddings

Thuja plicataFoliage & branches

Flattened evergreen sprays can soften the rim or outer edge of a winter arrangement. Measure usable lengths before comparing bunches sold by different suppliers.

Try the floral calculator Plan your stem count

Updated

Cedar — botanical referenceFIELD NOTEWinter foliage structure

Photo Credit: abdallahh from Montréal, Canada · CC BY 2.0

01 / KNOW YOUR INGREDIENT

Cedar,
at a glance.

Winter foliage structure

Names are a starting point. Keep the exact commercial form, cultivar, and supplier grade with your recipe so another florist can reproduce it.

Also look for

western red cedar · arborvitae

Search aliases can overlap; confirm the botanical identity and product code with your supplier.
Catalog name
Cedar
Botanical name
Thuja plicata
Design category
Foliage & branches
Plant family
Cupressaceae
Genus
Thuja
Reference leaf colors
Green, White

Botanical reference: NC State Extension . Colors and bloom seasons describe the referenced plant or group in a garden context; they are not a cut-flower stock list. Commercial hybrids, cultivars, and local conditions can differ.

THE PHOTO GALLERY

Cedar, in focus.

Explore the shape, texture, and possibilities. Open a photo for a closer look.

FLOWER STUDY

Thuja plicata

Photo Credit: Walter Siegmund (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0

FLOWER STUDY

Thuja plicata kz3

Photo Credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz · CC BY-SA 4.0

FLOWER STUDY

Cedar

Photo Credit: abdallahh from Montréal, Canada · CC BY 2.0

02 / DESIGN WITH INTENTION

Ways to use cedar
in wedding flowers.

These are design starting points. Test your sample with the actual cut material, venue conditions, and mechanics.

01

Winter bouquets

Use a modest amount of evergreen texture around focal flowers. Check the handle and exposed edges for comfortable handling.

02

Reception pieces

Vary branch placement to create depth. Confirm whether cones, berries, or only foliage are required.

03

Seasonal installations

Measure bundle coverage and allocate preparation time. Keep the exact species and branch grade in the purchasing notes.

03 / BUILD YOUR PALETTE

What pairs with cedar?

Start with contrasting shapes and compatible scale. Confirm that both ingredients are available in your colors for the same event date.

Amaryllis — botanical reference
Focal flowers

Amaryllis

A large floral focal point against evergreen texture.

Winterberry — botanical reference
Foliage & branches

Winterberry

A berry-bearing line within a winter palette.

Garden Rose — botanical reference
Focal flowers

Garden Rose

Soft petals to contrast with firmer foliage.

Compare other shapes before substituting
JuniperPine

These are design alternatives to explore. They can differ in head size, stem yield, color, and handling, so make a new sample and recost the recipe.

04 / TURN THE LOOK INTO A LIST

How many cedar
stems should you order?

Recipe quantity × arrangements, plus your extra-stem allowance. Then round up to your supplier’s pack size.

YOUR STEM PLAN

One ingredient. Every arrangement.

Start with a sample design, then work out the full order. The numbers below are a math example, not a recommended cedar recipe.

PLAN TO ORDER40stems of cedar
Used in arrangements
30
With 10% extra
33
Whole packs of 10
4
Stems beyond the recipe
10

Round up (3 × 10 × 1.1) to whole stems, then whole packs.

Cost one arrangement

Carries your per-arrangement quantity, stem cost, pack size, and buffer into the calculator. Add other flowers, supplies, and labor there. Signup unlocks catalog selection beyond the 10 free favorites.

05 / BUY WITH A CLEAR SPEC

Before you order
cedar.

Compare bundle weight, usable branch count, cut length, and decorative stage. Different evergreen materials can create very different coverage from the same nominal bunch size.

ASK YOUR SUPPLIERIs this the listed cedar trade material, and what bunch weight and spray length are supplied?

Put these details on the order

  • Wedding date and delivery window
  • Exact variety, commercial form, and color
  • Usable stem length and head or branch grade
  • Stems per bunch, price per bunch, and minimum order
  • Conditioning, storage, and expected opening stage
  • A client-approved substitution and a revised recipe

For fresh cut material, use clean containers and follow the supplier’s conditioning instructions. Keep foliage out of the vase water and test the finished sample before committing to a long display. Dried and preserved products need their own handling plan.

Cut-flower preparation and design principles · UMN Extension
A FEW MORE DETAILS

Cedar
wedding FAQs.

How can I use cedar in wedding flowers?

Think of this ingredient as a winter foliage structure. Flattened evergreen sprays can soften the rim or outer edge of a winter arrangement. Measure usable lengths before comparing bunches sold by different suppliers.

How much does cedar cost for a wedding?

Use a date-specific supplier quote for cedar. Is this the listed cedar trade material, and what bunch weight and spray length are supplied? Divide the quoted bunch price by its usable stem count for a per-stem cost, then include your quantities, supplies, labor, and pricing rules in the calculator. There is no fixed wholesale price in this guide.

How many cedar stems do I need?

Make one representative arrangement first and record how many purchased stems it uses. Multiply that quantity by the number of arrangements, add your chosen ordering allowance, and round up to whole supplier packs. The planner on this page demonstrates this calculation; its example values are not a recommended flower recipe.

Can I get cedar for my wedding date?

Confirm the exact event date, commercial form, color, and grade with your grower or wholesaler. A catalog listing is a planning reference, not an inventory feed. Ask about the source of the stems and agree a suitable alternative before finalizing the proposal.

About this guide

Stemwork’s design notes and pairing suggestions are editorial starting points for a florist’s own sample recipe. Botanical facts are drawn from Thuja plicata (Giant Arborvitae, Western Redcedar, Western Red-cedar) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (reference checked September 21, 2026). General preparation and design principles reference University of Minnesota Extension. Garden bloom seasons describe a plant in the reference’s growing context, not global wholesale availability. Images show botanical references and may depict a different cultivar or commercial stage. Stemwork does not publish live supplier inventory, wholesale prices, or guaranteed vase-life claims.

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