Cedrus atlantica known as the
Atlantic or
Atlas
Cedar grows to about 40 meters (140 feet) high with a loose open
habit, pyramidal crown, and branches always steeply ascending. It
is native to North Africa; the Atlas Mountains in Algeria and Morocco.
It was introduced into Europe in 1839 and is widely grown as an ornamental
throughout the world and even used in France for timber production
in areas with poor soil. A few of the most popular varieties are:
| Intermediate |
Upright |
Zone 6 |
'
AUREA ROBUSTA' The
Golden Atlas Cedar. This tree has a beautiful
golden frosting on its attractive gray-green needles making this variety
very popular. The branching structure is ascending when young, as a
more mature tree the branches tend to grow horizontally and the whole
tree becomes denser. The shape is broadly pyramidal in old age. Also
this species is makes a great selection because it is drought tolerant.
It is slower growing than the typical Atlas Cedar. Originated in Boskoop,
Holland, before 1900. The size in ten years will be about 6-8' high
and 2-3' wide. A really good choice!
To see two larger photos (53ktotal) click on small one.
NEW!
‘
FASTIGIATA’ There is much confusion in the industry concerning the correct naming of this cultivar and it seems we have both a blue-grey and a grey-green selection. Keeping that in mind the grey green one will be called ‘
Fastigiata’ from now on and the blue-grey one will be ‘
Glauca Fastigiata’. They both have the excellent stronlgy ascending branching habit and are fantastic choices when something is needed for a very narrow area. H:15’
'
GLAUCA' Known as the
Blue Atlas Cedar. This pretty bluish
-white tree is thinly branched and columnar while young. In maturity it
grows broader and much denser. Very popular. The size in ten years is
around 10' high and 2-3' wide.
'
GLAUCA FASTIGIATA' This is the great
Fastigiate Blue Atlas
Cedar. It will keep its narrow pyramid or columnar shape, densely
branched, with nice upward facing branches. Does not develop the round
-topped semi-spreading habit when mature. It comes to us from France
before 1890. The height will be 14' high and 6' wide in ten years.
'
GLAUCA PENDULA' The famous
Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar. This
one has branches that are gracefully pendulous with fantastic powder-
blue color. H:/W: will depend on training. It looks great when staked
upright and then allowed to flow downward like a stream over a waterfall.
It originated in Chatenay, France, before 1900. Very popular in modern
landscaping.
To see a larger photo click on small one.
| Intermediate |
Upright |
Zone 6 |
‘
HORSTMANN’ This new variety is a great release from the late Gunter Horstmann of Germany. It is a plant that will grow slower than Cedrus
atlantica ‘
Glauca’ and has an excellent color of powder blue.
Deodara
Deodar or Himalayan Cedar
The species
Cedrus deodara, also known as the
Deodar Cedar,
Indian Cedar and
Himalayan Cedar grows to about 60 meters
(185 feet) with a trunk reaching 3 meters in diameter and having gracefully
drooping branches (differing from C.
atlantica). The native
range is Afghanistan, northwest Pakistan, and north India, even though
it thrives from 5500 to 10000 feet elevation it is only hardy through
zone 6. Deodar is a name in India for certain trees associated with
temples. It can usually be distinguished from other Cedars because
it is softer in appearance, more graceful, has longer needles (1 1/2")
and a more pendulous, whip-like leader.
'
AUREA PENDULA' The
Golden Deodar Cedar is a fast growing pyramidal
shaped tree with long, soft golden-yellow needles in spring becoming
yellowish-green in fall. The habit includes nice drooping branches and a
pyramidal overall shape. It has been in cultivation since around 1866.
The size in ten years should be somewhere around 10' high and 4-6' wide.
To see a larger photo click on small one.
| Miniature |
Mounding |
Zone 7 |
'
BLUE BALL' This is a
Blue Sterling introduction of
a very low growing globe-shaped
Deodar Cedar that has excellent bluish-grey
color. The size of the original plant after 15 years is only 30"
high and 36" wide. A real GEM!
To see a larger photo (30k) click on small one.
| Intermediate |
Pyramidal |
Zone 7 |
'
CREAM PUFF' Here is a great variegated dwarf cone shaped plant
with nice white tips. Very attractive as an accent plant. It can be
sheared to keep it in small places if necessary. Quite rare and very
difficult to find. For best color place in full sun. Height:6' Width
:4' in 10 years. Great selection.
To see a larger photo (30k) click on small one.
| Miniature |
Mounding |
Zone 6 |
'
DEVINELY BLUE' This selection was named by Don Howse of Porterhowse
Nursery for Bill Devine of Maryland and has nice blue-green to powder-
blue needles. It will grow about as high as it does wide and keep a
relatively flat top. This creates a very nice visual image in the
landscape. It is a very slow grower with only about 2-3" a year.
To see a larger photo (27k) click on small one.
'
PROSTRATA' The
Prostrate Deodar Cedar has a very flat
ground-hugging habit that looks great cascading over rock walls or it
can be staked up a foot or more to create an even more interesting effect.
| Intermediate |
conical |
Zone 7 |
'
SILVER MIST' The
Silver Mist Deodar Cedar is one of our
hottest selling plants. This intermediate growing selection is a new introduction
from British Columbia, Canada. It has a very nice dense, conical habit
with slightly drooping branches and it only grows about 6 inches a year.
The soft, whitish needles are resistant to burning even in full sun. What
more could you possibly ask for? This one is truely a winner!!!
To see a larger photo (40k) click on small one.
Libani
Cedar of Lebanon
The last species we grow is Cedrus
libani better known
as the
Cedar of Lebanon. It is famous for both its Biblical
and historical associations and has been in cultivation for about
400 years in western Europe. It is native to Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon
and is found at an elevation of between 4300 and 10000 feet. It is
a narrowly pyramidal tree 24-40 meters (78 to 130 feet) tall with
a pointed crown that becomes irregular and flat-topped with age. It
can live to 1500 years and the oldest specimen still in cultivation
in England was from around 1638. This species has produced many nice
forms and some of the best dwarf types for the landscape.
| Miniature |
Irregular |
Zone 6 |
'
GREEN PRINCE' A very, very slow growing form of the magnificent
old Cedar of Lebanon. Superb in the dwarf garden areas of todays
smaller landscapes. Also frequently used as a bonsai due to its annual
growth rate of less than 1 inch.
| Intermediate |
Pendulous |
Zone 6 |
'
PENDULA' The
Weeping Cedar of Lebanon This quite dense,
slow growing plant has weeping branches with greenish-blue needles.
Must be staked to attain the desired height since it will not produce
a leader. Has been in cultivation since 1850. Rare. H:/W: depend on
training.
| Intermediate |
Prostrate |
Zone 6 |
'
SARGENTI'
Sargent's Cedar of Lebanon A nice prostrate to low mounding form that originated
in the Arnold Arboretum in 1919. If staked upright it will develop a
real nice downward flowing skirt. Unique.
var. stenacoma
| Intermediate |
Prostrate |
Zone 5? |
var. stenacoma This tree has short dark greenish-gray needles
and a conical habit when young. With maturity the habit becomes more
columnar and the branches have tips that nod slightly. The clone was
brought into the trade by Hesse. It is more frost hardy than the
libani as a species. I have seen it in the Harper Collection in
Michigan where it is 25 years old and has survived temperatures of -25
below 0 (F).
To see a larger photo click on small one.
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