What would make a large cedar tree lean over? Does this mean it is more likely to fall over in a wind storm? Is it diseased? It also has some very odd growths coming off its trunk. They are like mini trees growing out and up the sides of the main trunk. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Heavy snow load last winter? Root damage by any construction work? Cedars can grow new erect stems to replace damaged stems, here's an old storm-battered cedar in Turkey showing multiple new trunks developing after old damage.
Being in BC, it's likely a western redcedar (Thuja plicata), not a Cedrus. Is the lean recent (i.e. sudden), or has it grown that way? Trees will grow toward wherever there is (or was) available light. If the top of the tree is in the open, look for a vertical leader. If the leader is vertical, it has likely grown on an angle towards light, or has had a partial failure sometime in the past and has since corrected itself. If the leader is in open light , and still not near vertical, look for signs of soil heaving on the back side of the lean. If this is evident, the tree is likely to fail. It is common for cedars that have fallen over but still have some surviving roots to recruit lateral branches as new vertical leaders, sometimes becoming several new mature trees genetically identical to the original.
Short answer is that the tree is trying to correct its balance following a previous event which dynamically altered the tree. That you are seeing response growth is a good sign that structural integrity is reasonable just based on the time it takes to produce it. I would still suggest you seek the opinion of a certified risk assessing arborist if there is potential for property damage or frequent human traffic nearby. As for species, last I checked in my neck of the woods (BC), there are 20 or so botanical varieties of Cedrus deodora, atlantica, and libani within 3 blocks of my place. Lets not rule anything out just yet.
