true cedar trees are are magnanimous evergreen plant conifer of the Pinaceae ( pine ) kinfolk aboriginal of in high spirits altitude mint in the Himalayas and the Mediterranean .
Cedar trees can be identified by it ’s evergreen foliage lie in of myopic needle link in little potato on the fragrant woody branch , a pyramidal then spreading habit , phonograph needle - shaped bloom as well as triangular and winged seeds .
The vividness of its evergreen foliage motley accord to the mintage , but it is broadly speaking a light immature - gray - bluish .
A symbol of majesty and longevity , and very much prized for landscaping in public and large private garden . But there there is a serial publication of dwarf varieties with golden and blue needle that are desirable for little garden .
There are only four types of True Cedar Trees , Himalayan true cedar , Atlas Cedar , Cyprus Cedar and Lebanon cedar . From these 4 species have been create many cultivarswhich differ in their grownup size , the color of their leafage and their habit .
We will first learn how to identify any appendage of theCedrusgenus , and then we will find all the eminence between unlike character of cedar trees ( natural and cultivars ) with a full identification guide .
pile up below are distinct features of both true and false cedar mintage as well as steer on how to identify the various types in the world .
You will be able to recognise them all and even prefer your ducky by the remainder of this article , but what by ? Let ’s take on …
How To Identify Cedar Trees
It is easy to confuse cedar tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree of the Cedrus genus with pine Tree , but they are not the same . There is a primal differentiation when it comes to the foliage , and other small-scale differences which we are live on to see very soon .
Identify a Cedar Tree by the Needles
Like all conifers , cedar trees have needle rather than wide leave-taking , and they are evergreen . These can be 0.3 to 2.3 column inch long ( 8 to 60 mm ) . This tells us that they are short , unlike in many pine tree and fir . And this is a a first relation sign that you are looking at a penis of the Cedrus genus .
But if you really want to make certain , you take to look at how the needles are arranged and how they grow on the branch .
In fact , cedars have them arranged in what we call volute phyllotaxis . And this is almost unique in all conifers . But what do we mean by this terminal figure ? It means that they all come from the same key point , and that they firm a whorl , a thick spiral indeed .
They are attached to the branch with a fascicle , like with pines , and in each rosette you could rule needles from dissimilar years , up to three .
The shape of the acerate leaf is also very distinctive ; if you cut it in the midriff , you get a cross surgical incision that is a triangular with wind side , or in come cases squares .
The color can range , from dark gullible to blue green .
Identify a Cedar Tree by Its Cones
The cones of cedar trees point upwards on the branches , and they have thin and broad scale that intersect like in basket weaving .
They are usually big and barrel shaped , but there are some exceptions , like with deodar cedar ( Cedrus deodara ) which has long , and narrow cones with a diamond pattern of scale .
Cedar cones will disintegrate after they have drop their seed , and they are unremarkably 2.3 to 4.7 inch long ( 6 to 12 cm ) and 1.2 to 3.1 inches encompassing ( 3 to 8 cm ) . Firs can have much bigger one .
While cedars look more like pines , their cones are similar to those of fir ; they are also paper like like in Abies ( fir ) , rather than woody , like in pines . This is peculiarly obtrusive when they open up , while when they are young , they may look like small green pineapples .
So , if you see a tree with the shape of a pine , but the cone shape of a fir , it ’s a cedar tree .
Identify a Cedar Tree by Its Size
Cedar trees are never belittled when grownup . They range between 100 and 210 pes tall ( 30 to 210 time ) . They will mainly keep within the 120 feet in height ( 40 meters ) , but there are some real heavyweight . If you see a short cedar tree attend tree , it is a pine …
The spread of cedars can reach 80 feet in bed covering ( 24 metre ) , though most will be narrower . The property of this conifer stand for that you’re able to not grow one in a small space ; but it also gives them impressive landscaping quality , in fact …
However , cultivars are smaller , sometimes even dwarf in sizing .
This is part of why they reckon purple , but not the only one , the other is their contour .
Identify a Cedar Tree by Its Shape
True cedar tree have a very distinctive shape ; they are monopodial , which means that the master bole keeps growing as it produces lateral branch .
These are spaced , and with rhythmic geometrical regularity . They have a particular trait though ; the Cedrus genus has primary and secondary shoot . The latter carry most of the farewell , while the larger ones are almost barren .
This , and the candid habit of our conifers give cedar the effect of “ swarm of leaves ” that so well adapts to Japanese and oriental gardens , but not only .
The cast of the crown can vary ; in some varieties , it is conical , while in others , like in cedarwood of Lebanon ( Cedrus libani ) it is spreading .
Perfect , now you bonk how to assure a cedar tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree from other conifers , permit ’s discuss what you need to look at to describe the different taxa ( variety ) within the genus .
4 Types Of True Cedar Trees
There are only 5 real types of cedar tree , as we say ; we wo n’t suffer time on the technical issue of why they are called “ taxonomic category ” and not “ mintage ” , but I want to help oneself you understand the verbal description with identification in idea …
But only of 4 of them , because one , Cedrus penzhinaensis is unfortunately nonextant .
What will we be look at ? aside from a general verbal description , origin etc . , we will bet at some of the same element we did in the previous plane section , those that help us distinguish one eccentric of cedar Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree from another : size , needle , shape , cones and other distinctive features if necessary .
Ready ? Off we go !
1:Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)
Cedar of Lebanon is one of the most illustrious cedar tree varieties , you’re able to identify it by its striking physical body and original of the Eastern Mediterranean neighborhood .
In fact , it will have a pyramidal shape when new , but as it grows , it will move around into a flat topped , spreading giant . It is in fact one of the broadest of all the genus Cedrus , reach out 60 pes ( 18 meters ) .
The proboscis can reach 8.5 feet in diameter ( 2.5 meters ) . The ramification is also very single ; these grow outwards and they shape iconic “ cloud ” over a tumid space . As it grows , the crest becomes more candid , gaining more and more in landscape gardening value .
The cone are russet in colour with smooch scale up to 4 inches long ( 10 cm ) . However , it will not produce any strobile until it reaches the eld of 40 .
But even on a small scale , this tree is distinctive ; the needles have four side , they are light ( 0.4 to 1.1 inch long , or 10 to 25 cm ) , and they are dark gullible or glaucous blue green in color . They can stay in the branches for up to 6 age .
It has win the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society and it is arguably the most essay after cedar tree tree by gardeners .
2:Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica)
Atlas cedar come from Morocco and it too has a proud shape that distinguishes it and that pee-pee it idealistic for park and large garden .
Cedrus atlanticausually has an open pyramidal soma , with large branches that tend to mature up and out , some so large that they compete with the chief bole .
adult form “ clouds of leaves ” that sometimes matter down the blue branch . It can grow to 115 feet easily ( 35 meters ) and sometimes even a bit taller . The trunk is with child , up to 7 feet in diam ( 2.1 meters ) . Overall , it attend taller and narrow-minded than cedar tree of Lebanon .
The needles ofCedrus atlanticaare dark green to glaucous blue and in legion rosettes of up to 35 . The retinal cone are browned in color and they rarely exceed 3.6 inches long ( 9.0 cm ) .
Atlas cedar is an endangered species in natural environment on the Atlas Mountain Range , but it has become very pop with gardeners , and they have generated a few cultivars , which we will see later on on .
3:Cyprus Cedar (Cedrus brevifolia)
you’re able to well recognize a Cyprus cedar because it looks far more like a fir tree than other potpourri , but only when it is immature . It originates from the Troodos Mountains on the famous island in the East Mediterranean Sea .
Cedrus brevifoliais closely related to Cedar of Lebanon and in fact some people discombobulate them , and some even think they are the same .
It is shorter than Lebanon or Atlas cedar tree , reaching 60 feet marvelous ( 20 meters ) and it ’s the slow growing of all member of this genus .
The overall shape is conical , and the branches are curt and with a horizontal scatter , and for this reason it looks like Abies .
However , this changes as it matures and it ends up with a flat umbrella crown . The needles roll between 0.2 and 0.35 inch ( 5 to 8 mm ) and they are aristocratic green in people of color . The cones are distinctive , with a bombastic protuberance and a concave upper part , or apex , and short , only 2.8 column inch longsighted ( 7.0 cm ) .
Cyprus cedar is not a common smorgasbord in gardens , but it still has the imposing beauty of these trees . And if you want to acquire it , here are a few ideas for you …
4:Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodara)
Deodar cedar issue forth from the Himalayas , well-to-do to distinguish because it ’s a real giant , growing up to 200 feet marvellous ( 60 meters ) and with a trunk that can strain 10 foot in diam ( 3.0 meters ) .
It has fair foresightful needle for this species ( up to 7.0 centimetre , or 2.8 inches but usually small ) in rosettes of 20 to 30 .
Their color ranges from smart immature to glaucous and wan green , The cones are 2.8 to 5.1 inches recollective ( 7.0 to 13 cm ) and wide , between 2.0 and 3.5 inches ( 5 to 9 cm ) and bbl determine . It has a pyramidal crown , and it retains this configuration into maturity .
The arm acquire outwards more frequent on the branches than in other miscellany , especially when young . It is prized for its wood and used in Ayurvedic medicinal drug .
Deodar cedarwood is not a common variety for horticulture ; its size makes it hard to keep in garden , and it does not have the same decorative value of Lebanon cedars , because its shape can easily be replace by fir tree , which mature faster , they are cheaper and often smaller .
However , there the cultivars of Cedrus we grow in gardens , are all derived from this female parent metal money . But just in type , here is how to develop it .
Best Cedar Varieties For Home Landscaping
Deodar cedar tree is not idealistic for gardens , but its offspring of cultivars is . And even Atlas cedar tree has given us some lovely cultivars that we want to get to hump .
These are much smaller than the mother Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and breeder have been capable to bring out amazing feature , like one-sided leafage and strange , decorative material body . have ’s see them …
5:Deodar Cedar ‘Aurea’ (Cedrus deodara ‘Aurea’)
‘ Aurea ’ is a very decorative cultivar of deodar cedar you may identify thanks to its name : in Latin , it means “ golden ” and this describes its leaf . In fact , the first thing that will strickle you is color of the needles , which are light-colored green with golden yellow nicety in them .
This is quite unparalleled in our group of conifers . The branches are fairly slow , like in the female parent species , short and with horizontal growth . The leaf hangs gently on them draping at the tips .
The overall shape is conic , with the treetop start up quite low down the tree trunk . It is garden size of it cedar , breed on role , as it only strive 40 feet in height maximum ( 12 meters ) .
‘ Aurea ’ deodar cedar is ideal for informal gardens , as a specimen plant or in clumps ; it will bet great in city and courtyard gardens , bungalow and English country pattern , and it has won the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society .
6:Deodar Cedar ‘Feelin’ Blue’ (Cedrus deodar ‘Feelin’ Blue’)
You will recognize ‘ Feelin ’ Blue ’ Cedrus deodara cedar because it is very low . It is only 3 feet marvellous ( 90 cm ) , a far cry from the prodigious conifer we usually identify with the name Cedrus .
This goes to the credit of amazing breeders , and it also has other great characteristics for gardening .
The foliage is blue , or aquamarine , and dim . It has a flat and round wont , quite dense and with lovely arching branches .
It is big in spread than height … Indeed , it does not look like any other cedar tree , and you could throw it for a bush . In fact , unless you train it , using a stake to swipe it up , it will remain short , large and bushy .
‘ Feelin ’ Blue ’ Himalayan cedar cedar tree is perfect in hedges , for foundation planting and even as ground cover .
It conform to all intimate designs , including cottage garden , urban scope and even oriental and Japanese designs . It has won the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society .
7:Atlas Cedar ‘Glauca’ (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’)
‘ Glauca ’ is garden cultivar of Atlas cedarwood with a very distinctive “ barren ” look you could well key it by . When it is young , it has a foresightful and thin body with few , brusk horizontal branches on it .
Each branch is intelligibly disjoined from the others , quarantined and visible . Oddly enough , they are all covered by needle that cake them , but only just .
These will become thicker and thicker as the plant matures , give you a final pyramidic diadem when it is an adult .
The people of colour of the needles is collide with too : it is smooth-spoken blue , and so unique in this genus of conifers . It is also a fast grow industrial plant , up to 24 inches each class ( 60 cm ) but it will never become too tall , maximal 60 feet ( 18 meters ) .
Atlas cedar ‘ Glauca ’ is a thoroughgoing garden tree ; it is excellent for all informal garden designs , and you could have color , grain and structure in a brusk time with it . It has won the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society .
8:‘Golden Horizon’ Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodar ‘Golden Horizon’)
‘ Golden Horizon ’ is a deodar cedar tree cultivar similar to ‘ Aurora ’ but the main dispute is its smaller sizing . In fact it only grows to a uttermost of 10 foot ( 3.0 metre ) .
The needles are gullible most of the year , but in summer they ferment golden unripened . It has prospicient , horizontal primary branches with arching , almost cry junior-grade branches .
This yield it a very subdued , elegant flavor . What is more , it is very broad at the base and it tapers to a point give you a prominent pyramidal shape .
The leafage is thick and the habit is dense , so you’re able to hardly see the offset beneath it . In a way , it look like a large shrub with an almost prostrate habit .
‘ Golden Horizon ’ deodar cedar is perfect to give you lots of invigorated and vivid texture and leafage in most type of cozy garden , as a specimen plant or in clumps , or even to clock an unsightly niche of your yard or beyond it .
9:Atlas Cedar ‘Glauca Pendula’ (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’)
It is easy to recognize Atlas cedar tree ‘ Glauca Pendula ’ because it has weeping arm . The trunk is straight and unsloped ; the chief shoots are horizontal and bare . But the secondary branches that produce from them grow downwards , like on a willow tree tree .
These are wrapped in a myopic “ fuzz”’of blue-blooded needles , and they almost rival the soil . And you’re able to also educate them to make winding shapes , like ophidian … In fact , you’re able to educate the whole tree to follow arches , porches and gates , as if it was a climber .
This very original variety of Cedrus has won the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society .
Atlas true cedar ‘ Glauca Pendula ’ is a very worthful garden tree ; you may influence it as you wish and it has a born picturesque appearance . Add the strange shade of its short needles , and you could see how it can really transform a greenish blank , and it adapt to all themes , from Mediterranean to Japanese .
10:Cyprus Cedar ‘Kenwith’ (Cedrus brevifolia ‘Kenwith’)
It is easy to identify the cultivar of Cyprus cedar diagnose ‘ Kenwith ’ : it is the smallest of all cedar tree trees ! In fact , it look like a miniature variant of its majestic congener , reach a maximum height of only 18 inches ( 45 centimeter ) ! And because it is slow grow , it will take it a whole 10 years to give this modest size .
This dwarf cyprus cedar has a thick and pyramidal habit , with branches that start low down on the motortruck and they repoint clearly up . This too is an unusual feature of speech .
The foliage is dense and bright green , make it a flyspeck but lively front in garden .
Cyprus cedar ‘ Kenwith ’ is double-dyed for small spaces , even container on terraces or terrace .
It is also a natural bonsai , and its shape makes it idealistic for foundation planting , to have evergreen leafage and texture in hedges and even to adorn the face of way .
Cedar Giants And Cedar Dwarves Identified!
Well done ! Now you may distinguish all the 4 taxonomic category , or principal salmagundi of cedar trees and even their 6 cultivars , from hulk giants like deodar cedar or cedarwood of Lebanon to lilliputian cultivars like ‘ Kenwith ’ , and maybe one can find a home in your garden , or even on your terrace .
Written By
Amber Noyes was bear and raised in a suburban California townsfolk , San Mateo . She holds a passkey ’s grade in horticulture from the University of California as well as a bacillus in Biology from the University of San Francisco . With experience working on an organic farm , water supply preservation enquiry , James Leonard Farmer ’ markets , and plant nursery , she understands what makes plants flourish and how we can better understand the connection between microclimate and plant life health . When she ’s not on the land , Amber loves informing mass of new ideas / thing related to horticulture , particularly organic horticulture , houseplants , and grow plants in a small space .
