Northern white-cedar trees are native to the North American boreal forest. Northern white-cedar trees are "identified primarily by unique flat and filigree sprays made up of tiny, scaly leaves," writes Steve Nix, adding that "Arborvitae is its cultivated name and commercially sold and planted in yards throughout the United States." I remember once having a conversation with a forest ranger in Maine's Acadia National Park confirming this relationship between northern white-cedar trees and arborvitae that Steve mentions. There are lots of northern white-cedar trees in Maine! If you're seeking an evergreen tree for your landscape, consult this article from About's Forestry Guide on northern white-cedar trees to learn more. Incidentally, Atlantic white-cedar trees, although similar, belong to a genus different from that of northern white-cedar trees; and the hyphenated names of both indicate that they are not true cedars.