Question
I have several Alaskan Weeping Cedars in my yard.  I have noticed "starts" or small plants popping up around these cedars. I have been digging them up and planting them in pots. Are these really cedar starts or something else. They look like the big ones, only smaller.  


Thanks, Lynn

Answer
Hi Lynn,
Alaskan weeping cedar is a cultivar of Chamaecyparis nootkatensis.  That means it is a hybrid.  The seedlings in your yard will be variable and not resemble the parent tree exactly.  There will be missing features or maybe some improved ones.  It's hard to say.  When viable seeds of hybrids are allowed to germinate, the result is usually not as desirable as the parent plant due to the instability of the genetics of hybrids.  You can raise up your seedlings and discard them if they are not acceptable.  This could be a lot of fun and you could discover something new.  Or, it could be a big waste of your time if you're not into that.  The seedlings could also be from other cedars or conifers that are growing close by.  I hope this helps.
Tom