10 Types of Cedar Trees For Landscaping

Overview

Cedar trees refer to several species of upright evergreen conifers that have needle-like leaves. These trees have similar form and use, but their growing conditions vary and they do not belong to the same family. Due to their size, these trees are not commonly found in gardens and are usually seen lining streets or in parks. Cedar trees are long-lived and they generally used as screens or hedges in large landscapes.

Classification (True Vs False Cedars)

Cedar trees are into two broad groups:

• True Cedar
• False Cedar

True cedars are in genus Cedrus and comprise of species of trees in the plant family Pinaceae. Their leaves are short, evergreen needles in clusters. The bark of these trees is often dark-grey. Their female cones are upright and fat, between 3-5 inches long. Their wood possesses cedar quality and they are native to Mediterranean region and the Himalayas. These Cedars Include:

• Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica)
• Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara)
• Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)
• Cyprian Cedar (Cedrus brevifolia)

False cedars are mostly in genera calocedrus and in the family Cupressaceae. Their tiny scale-like leaves overlap like shingles and form flat sprays like a fern. Female cones are very small, about half an inch long and remain on trees long after seed dispersal. The bark of these trees is often both reddish and stringy or pearly. Their wood has similar qualities of true cedars and is native to East Asia and North America. It is generally simple to differentiate these trees from the true cedars, but not that easy to tell distinction between them from one another. These cedars include:

• Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
• Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
• Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
• Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata)
• Alaska Yellow Cedar (Cupressus nootkatensis)
• Incense Cedar (calocedrus decurrens)

Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica)

Cedrus atlantica commonly referred to as Atlas cedar is a majestic evergreen tree and the most popular of among cedars. It is native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria where it grows between 30-35 meters tall (rarely 40 meters tall). In its initial years of life, it maintains a narrow conical form before widening into a pyramidal form at about 20 years of age.

The leaves of mature atlas cedars are evergreen (which means they are able to maintain the same color year round, and are usually blue green in color. Young atlas cedars usually display silvery foliage with a fragrant aroma. In as far as leaf morphology is concerned, the leaves are need-like in shape and arranged in spirals. The branches of this tree are thornless, resistant to breakage and droop as they grow a factor which results to the pyramidal shape of the tree. The bark is dark brown or gray and appears fissured.

Atlas cedars have neither flowers nor fruits and are generally susceptible to bark beetles, which may tunnel and eat through the tree bark, possibly carrying fungus or bacterial pathogens which may in the long run affect the overall growth and health of the plant.

Plant Profile

• Common Name: Atlas Cedar
• Scientific Name: Cedrus atlantica
• Family: Pinaceae
• Native: Atlas Mountains of Morocco
• Size: 30-35m (rarely 40m tall)
• Tree Shape: Pyramidal
• Plant Type: Evergreen
• Growth Rate: Slow rate
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun and partial shade
• Soil PH Preference: Acidic, Alkaline
• Soil Type: Loamy, moist, organic rich, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: Zones 6-9
• Tolerances: Salt, heat
• Leaf Color: Blue-green
• Bark Color: Dark brown, Dark gray, light brown, light gray
• Stem Color: Brown/Silver
• Reproduction: Monoecious

Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara)

Cedrus deodara commonly referred to as Deodar cedar is a large evergreen coniferous tree native to the Western Himalayas in Eastern Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan and India. The Deodar Cedar is identified by its flap top (at maturity), widespread swooping branches, blue-green needles, gray scaly bark and small cones.

The twigs of this tree are thin and straight. The trunks are covered in dark gray bark that becomes fissured or scaly as the tree ages. Mature trees have been known to have thick trunks measuring 3 meters in diameter.

The Deodar is monoecious since it has both male and female cones that grow on the same tree. The female cones are barrel-shaped, long and broad and disintegrate when mature to release the winged seeds.  The male cones are long and shed their pollen in autumn.

Deodar Cedars are highly drought tolerant and do well in most or dry soil. However, long periods of drought can kill the tree. Also, the tree can thrive in highly acidic soils and have been known to be able to live seaside in mild climates. Deodar Cedar has been grown throughout West coast and southern states of United Stated and across Europe, South America, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia and Central America.

Plant Profile

• Common Name: Himalayan cedar, devadar
• Scientific Name: Cedrus deodara
• Family: Pinaceae
• Native: Eastern Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan and North-central India.
• Size: 40-60 feet
• Tree Shape: Conical shape
• Plant Type: Evergreen
• Growth Rate: Fast rate (36 inches per year)
• Lifespan: More than 150 years
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun and partial shade
• Soil PH Preference: Acidic, Alkaline
• Soil Type: Loamy, moist, organic rich, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: Zones 6-9
• Tolerances: Salt, heat
• Leaf Color: Bluish green or silver or gray green,
• Bark Color: Dark brown, Dark gray, light brown, light gray
• Stem Color: Brown/Silver
• Reproduction: Monoecious

Cedar Of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)

Cedar libani also referred to as cedar of Lebanon or Lebanon cedar is native to the mountains of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. It is considered to be one of the true cedars and is the species that is the best at tolerating cold temperatures. Similar to other cedars, it has graceful branches covered in bunches of needle-like foliage.

The Cedar of Lebanon has grey-green leaves held on gently arching to level branches. The leaves are needle-like, arranged in spirals and concentrated at the proximal end of the long shoots and in clusters on the short shoots. New shoots of this plant are pale brown whereas older shoots turn grey, grooved and scaly.

The rough and scaly bark is dark grey to blackish brown and is run through by deep, horizontal fissures that peel in small chips. The crown is conical when young, becoming broadly tabular when aged with fairly level branches; trees growing in dense forests maintain more pyramidal shapes.

Given that both male and female cones are borne on the same tree, cedar of Lebanon can be described as monoecious. Generally, male cones occur at the ends of the short shoots whereas the female seed cones grow at the terminal ends of the short shoots. Usually, the young seed cones are sessile, resinous and pale green and requires at least 16 month after pollination to mature. Mature cones open up from top to bottom; they disintegrate and lose their seed scales, releasing seeds.

Plant Profile

• Common Name: Cedar of Lebanon, Lebanon cedar
• Scientific Name: Cedrus lebani
• Family: Pinaceae
• Native: Eastern Mediterranean Basin
• Size: 30-70 feet
• Tree Shape: Pyramidal shape
• Plant Type: Evergreen
• Growth Rate: Fast rate
• Lifespan: More than 50 years
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun and partial shade
• Soil PH Preference: Acidic, Alkaline
• Soil Type: Loamy, moist, organic rich, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: Zones 6-9
• Leaf Color: Grey-green
• Bark Color: Dark grey to blackish brown
• Reproduction: Monoecious
• Pests And Diseases: Aphids

Cyprian Cedar (Cedrus brevifolia)

Cedrus brevifolia commonly referred to as Cyprian cedar is native to Cyprus It is one of the unique types of cedars, often touted as Yellow Cedar. It resembles a smaller version of the Lebanon cedar and often admired due to its smaller leaves and an umbrella-like shaped crown.

Cyprian cedar has grayish-brown bark that fissures as the tree matures. This tree has the smallest needles of all the cedars and matures to about 10 to 15 feet in 10 years. It is adaptable to clay, loam and sandy soils, but generally prefers moist, well-drained soils. Cyprian cedar may be a perfect choice for your landscaping because of its drought and heat resistance.

Plant Profile

• Common Name: Cyprian cedar
• Scientific Name: Cedrus brevifolia
• Family: Pinaceae
• Native: Eastern Mediterranean Basin
• Size: 30-70 feet
• Tree Shape: Pyramidal shape
• Plant Type: Evergreen
• Growth Rate: Slow growing
• Lifespan: More than 50 years
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun and partial shade
• Soil PH Preference: Acidic, Alkaline
• Soil Type: Loamy, moist, organic rich, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: Zones 5-8
• Leaf Color: Grey-green
• Bark Color: Dark grey to blackish brown
• Sexuality: Monoecious
• Pests And Diseases: Aphids
• Reproduction: Monoecious

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)

Thuja plicata commonly referred to as western red cedar or pacific red cedar is native to western North America and south western Canada. It is not a true cedar of the genus Cedrus. Western red cedar can grow to huge sizes, over 60 meters tall with drooping branches, trunk often spreading out widely at the base. Its outer bark is brownish, thin, fissured and scaly, shedding in irregular flakes.

Western red cedar has tiny, pointed scale-like leaves which may have faint whitish patches on the lower surface. The cones are slender long and broad (egg-shaped) with thin overlapping scales. They are green to yellow-green, ripening brown in fall about six months after pollination and open at maturity to shed seeds.

The wood of western cedar is light and soft. It has a pungent, pleasing smell and an attractive red-brown color. Its resistance to rotting makes it the wood of choice for  boat making, greenhouse fittings shingles, decking, fencing and other purposes for  which resistance to moisture and decay is more important than strength.

Plant Profile

• Common Name: Western red cedar, pacific red cedar, giant arborvitae, giant cedar, shinglewood
• Scientific Name: Thuja plicata
• Family: Cupressaceae
• Native: Western North America and south western Canada
• Size: 12-50 feet tall
• Tree Shape: Pyramidal shape
• Plant Type: Evergreen
• Growth Rate: Slow growing
• Lifespan: More than 40 years
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun and partial shade
• Soil PH Preference: Acidic, Alkaline
• Soil Type: Loamy, moist, organic rich, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: Zones 5-9
• Leaf Color: Grey-green
• Bark Color: Dark grey to brownish brown
• Pests And Diseases: Aphids, twig blight
• Reproduction: Monoecious

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Juniperes Virginiana also referred to as Eastern red cedar; pencil cedar is a rugged, extremely long-lived, medium-sized evergreen tree that grows 12 to 50 feet tall. It is really not a Cedar but is actually a species of juniper native to eastern North America from Southeastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and east of the Great Plains.

Eastern red cedar has small and scale-like leaves, dark green in summer changing to reddish-brown in fall. The bark is red-brown in color, exfoliating in long, fibrous strips, often ashy gray where exposed. Small, light blue-green clusters of flowers mature in late winter or early spring. The tree produces a nearly spherical blue fruit that matures in the fall on female trees.

The eastern red cedar grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, dry, sandy, silt loam, well-drained and clay soils. The tree can withstand occasional flooding yet has good drought tolerance. This tree is susceptible to twig blight and scale.

Plant Profile

• Common Name: Eastern red cedar, red juniper, pencil cedar, aromatic cedar
• Scientific Name: Juniperus virginiana
• Family: Cupressaceae
• Native: Eastern North America
• Size: 30-70 feet
• Tree Shape: Columnar or Pyramidal shape
• Plant Type: Evergreen
• Growth Rate: Slow growing
• Lifespan: More than 40 years
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun and partial shade
• Soil PH Preference: Acidic, Alkaline
• Soil Type: Dry, loamy, moist, organic rich, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: Zones 5-8
• Leaf Color: Sage green to blue-green
• Bark Color: Grayish to reddish-brown bark
• Pests And Diseases: Aphids, twig blight and scale
• Tolerances: Heat, Wind and salt
• Reproduction: Monoecious

North White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

Thuja occidentalis commonly referred to as Northern white cedar, American arborvitae, swamp cedar or eastern white cedar is a coniferous evergreen, native to eastern Canada and much of the north-central and northeastern United States. Leaves of this tree are evergreen and scale-like, opposite in alternating pairs, one pair flat, top to bottom of the twig, the other lateral pair keeled, side to side on the twig, which gives the twig a flattened look.

The bark of the northern white cedar is reddish-brown or pale-brown, stringy and fibrous in appearance, sometimes shredding. On young trees, the bark on the trunk is reddish brown to gray, showing thin, narrow vertical strips. Branches are fan-like, horizontal and extend to the ground except on old trees where lower branches will usually be shed. The trunk is sometimes divided into two or more secondary trunks.

Northern white cedar is monoecious, developing male pollen cones and female seed cones on the branchlets of the same tree. The seed cones are slender, yellow-green, ripening to brown. They also are long, broad with overlapping scales.

Male and female flowers are tiny, cone-like bodies that are usually borne on separate twigs or branchlets. Female flowers are pinkish; they appear at the tips of the short terminal branchlets. Male flowers are yellowish and appear on branchlets near the base of the shoot.

Plant Profile

• Common Name: Northern white cedar, American arborvitae or tree of life, eastern white cedar or swamp cedar
• Scientific Name: Thuja occidentalis
• Family: Cupressaceae
• Native: Eastern Mediterranean Basin
• Size: 12-50 feet
• Tree Shape: Pyramidal shape
• Plant Type: Evergreen
• Growth Rate: Slow growing
• Lifespan: More than 50 years
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun and partial shade
• Soil PH Preference: Acidic, Alkaline
• Soil Type: Loamy, moist, organic rich, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: Zones 5-8
• Leaf Color: Grey-green
• Bark Color: Dark grey to blackish brown
• Reproduction: Monoecious
• Pests And Diseases: Aphids

Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata)

Cedrela odorata commonly referred to as Spanish cedar, Cuban cedar or Cedro in Spanish. It is native to Latin America where it is the primary wood utilized in the manufacture of Cigar boxes and humidors. Its wood is light reddish brown to dark brown in color with grain texture similar to that of mahogany.

Spanish cedar grows up to heights of between 12 and 30 feet with a trunk diameter that can exceed 2m.  The leaves of this plant are very long, with pair of leaflets and have a strong garlic-like or onion-like smell. The large and much-branched inflorescences bear numerous small, five-part, symmetrical greenish-white flowers. Flowers are 6-9 mm long; petals greenish-cream in bud becoming white after opening.

Plant Profile

• Common Name: South America cedar, Cuban cedar, Spanish cedar
• Scientific Name: Cedrela odorata
• Family: Cupressaceae
• Native: Central And South America
• Size: 12 to 30 feet
• Tree Shape: Pyramidal shape
• Plant Type: Evergreen
• Growth Rate: Slow growing
• Lifespan: More than 50 years
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun and partial shade
• Soil PH Preference: Acidic, Alkaline
• Soil Type: Loamy, moist, organic rich, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: Zones 5-9
• Leaf Color: Grey-green
• Bark Color: Dark grey to blackish brown
• Pests And Diseases: Aphids
• Reproduction: Monoecious

Alaska Yellow Cedar (Cupressus nootkatensis)

Cupressus nootkatensis commonly referred to as Alaska yellow cedar or sometimes known as the yellow cypress is an evergreen tree growing up to 50 feet tall, commonly with pendulous branches with flat, feathery sprays. It is native to the coastal regions of northwestern North America. In freely drained soils, Alaska yellow-cedar develops a dense, profuse root system, with a non-existent or poorly defined taproot, similar to that of western red cedar.

Alaska yellow cedar has yellowish or bluish green scale-like leaves with sharp pointed spreading tips. It also has grayish-white to grayish-brown, shaggy bark, arranged in vertical strips that flake but cannot be peeled off in long, vertical strips. When you expose the yellowish, inner back, it smells like raw potatoes as opposed to the traditional and pleasant ‘cedar’ smell of red cedar. The cones of this tree begin as round, bumpy, whitish-green berries. Cones usually mature the following year, both first and second year cones may occur on the same branch.

Plant Profile

• Common Name: Nootka cypress, yellow cypress, Alaska yellow cedar, Alaska cedar
• Scientific Name: Cupressus nootkatensis
• Family: Cupressaceae
• Native: Coastal regions of northwestern North America
• Size: 30-50 feet
• Tree Shape: Pyramidal shape
• Plant Type: Evergreen
• Growth Rate: Slow growing
• Lifespan: More than 50 years
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun and partial shade
• Soil PH Preference: Acidic, Alkaline
• Soil Type: Loamy, moist, organic rich, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: Zones 5-9
• Leaf Color: Yellow or bluish-green
• Bark Color: grayish-white to grayish-brown
• Reproduction: Monoecious

Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens)

Species calocedrus decurrens commonly referred to as Incensed cedar or white cedar is an ornamental and timber evergreen conifer native primarily to the western slopes of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges of North America. It appears bushier and less pyramidal than most conifers. The timber from incense is used for carpentry, pencils, storage chests, interiors and fence posts.

Incense cedar tree has straight trunks with spreading branches that ends in sprays of branchlets, covered with dark green leaves that emit some odor when bruised. Both mature and young leaflets are usually present. Its reddish-brown bark is very thick and firm, and looks similar to the bark of the other native cedars, but it is deeply furrowed on large trees.

The Incense cedar is monoecious, meaning different trees produce either male or female cones in order to reproduce. The seed cones are usually green or yellow in color and have four scales (the outer two scales each having two seeds and the inner two scales usually do not have seeds). After being pollinated, the seed cones become orange in color. Incense cedars are tolerant of a wide range of PH levels. It generally grows in soils that are strongly acidic to neutral, but can also thrive in slightly basic soils.

Plant Profile

• Common Name: Incensed cedar or white cedar
• Scientific Name: Species calocedrus decurrens
• Family: Cupressaceae
• Native: Asia, North America
• Size: 30-80 feet
• Tree Shape: Pyramidal shape
• Plant Type: Evergreen
• Growth Rate: Slow growing
• Lifespan: More than 40 years
• Sunlight Requirement: Full sun and partial shade
• Soil PH Preference: Acidic, Alkaline
• Soil Type: Loamy, moist, organic rich, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: Zones 5-9
• Leaf Color: Dark-green
• Bark Color: Reddish-brown
• Reproduction: Monoecious
• Pests And Diseases: Aphids