Kinds of Cedar Trees

Cedar trees come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

When you think of cedar trees, you may envision Christmas. In addition to serving as Christmas trees, cedars provide shade for lawns, firewood for kindling and food for animals. Growing a cedar requires time and care. Cedars do not reach maturity overnight, but you can still enjoy watching them grow.

Cedar of Lebanon

The most frost-tolerant tree in the cedar family is the cedar of Lebanon. Growing in USDA hardiness zones five through seven, the majestic cedar of Lebanon reaches heights of up to 50 feet. Shaped like a pyramid, this tree makes an excellent landscape plant when grown under the right conditions. During its early growing years, the cedar of Lebanon has a pyramid shape. As the tree ages, it assumes a rounder shape as it branches spread.

Weeping Blue Atlas

One of the most unusual cedars is the weeping blue atlas. This dramatic evergreen only grows to a height of 5 feet, but it reaches 20 feet in diameter. Its diminutive size makes it ideal for areas where taller cedars will not fit, such as below power lines. The tree has blue thistles that sit atop a base of stems that grows horizontally. This gives the weeping blue atlas tree the appearance of a large hedge. It is suitable for hardiness zones seven through eight and grows best in acidic soil with a full view of the sun.

California Incense-cedar

The California incense-cedar can outlive you and many of your descendants. Although these trees grow slowly, they survive up to 1,000 years when growing in the wild. This cedar has a narrow, pyramid shape and reaches heights of up to 60 feet in landscape environments. Dark-green needles extend from the top of the tree to its base. The needles do not fall off unless the tree receives too much shade. Birds and other wildlife feast off the cedar's pine cones, which sit on the tips of the branches. The California incense-cedar grows well in hardiness zones five through eight.

Cedrela odorata

The cedrela odorata cedar goes by many names such as American cedar, Central American cedar and Mexican boxwood. This cedar grows up to up to 190 feet in some parts of the world such as South America. Fertile soil and perfect drainage help this tree achieve maximum growth. The cedrela odorata's flowers attract bees that use the nectar to produce honey. Because of its low-lying branches, the cedrela odorata cedar makes a useful windbreaker and shade tree.

References

• University of Missouri Extension: Horticultural MU Guide
• Washington State University Clark County Extension: Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar
• U.S. Forest Service; California Incense-cedar; Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson; 1993
• World AgroForestry Centre: Cedrela odorata

Resources

• University of Illinois Extension: Christmas Trees and More