How can you tell a pencil cedar Polyscias murrayi from a red cedar Toona ciliata?

Red cedar, also called western red cedar, is the species Thuja plicata. It should not be confused with the eastern red cedar, Juniperus virginiana, or the Lebanon cedar

For one place- Southeastern United States.

Most preparations of red cedar call for boiling the medicinal parts to make a decoction or for making a tea or infusion.

maybe try it and find out,. Yes

it can be 50 to 60 ft tall