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Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' is often confused with:
Cedrus atlantica Cedrus atlantica bark
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula'
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cedrus atlantica Cedrus atlantica bark
Cupressus sempervirens Cupressus sempervirens
Hesperocyparis macrocarpa Cupressus macrocarpa
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers

Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
SEE-drus at-LAN-ti-ka GLAW-kuh
Description

Blue Atlas Cedar is a showy evergreen conifer that needs plenty of room to grow. It originated in the Atlas Mountains of North Africa.  A waxy coating on the needles gives them the bluish cast for which Glauca is known. Growing rapidly when young, its growth slows down as it matures.  It typically grows to a height of 60' tall, however, heights can reach up to 100'.  It has an open pyramidal form with the lower branches spreading to about half the trees' height.  Giving it enough space to grow without pruning becoming necessary is ideal, as it will allow it to show off the irregular, open pyramidal form from head to toe.  Pruning the lower branches has a tendency to make the tree take on a misshaped appearance. 

The preferred growing conditions include an acidic, well drained loam.  However, it can tolerate alkaline, sandy and clay soils, providing good drainage is provided.  Mature trees are drought resistant as long as they are located in an area where their roots are not restricted by space.

Open, stiff habit when young; widely pyramidal flat topped with age.  It will retain its lower branches.

Quick ID: 

  • All Cedrus genus members have new needles that are born singly on stems
  • Needles in the Glauca group have a bluish cast
  • Needles are triangular to quadrangular in cross-section
  • Female woody barrel-shaped cones sit on top of the branches
  • Difficult to transplant

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No significant issues.  In poorly drained soil, tip blight, root rot and black scale can occur.  Sap-suckers are known to riddle the trunk with small holes, but do not cause significant damage.  Can be a difficult specimen to transplant.  

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

 

 

More information on Cedrus atlantica.

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Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#needles#blue needles#pyramidal#conifer#wind tolerant#needled evergreen#provides shade#evergreen tree#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#needles#blue needles#pyramidal#conifer#wind tolerant#needled evergreen#provides shade#evergreen tree#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cedrus
    Species:
    atlantica
    Family:
    Pinaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North Africa
    Wildlife Value:
    No significant value to wildlife.
    Play Value:
    Easy to Grow
    Screening
    Textural
    Dimensions:
    Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Erect
    Horizontal
    Irregular
    Open
    Pyramidal
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    more than 60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Length:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Its hard, brown cones are inconspicuous.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Inconspicuous, non-showy, 2-3 in. cones, with an erect barrel shaped
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Prickly
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Filiform
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Narrow blue-gray needles in spirals; thicker and more stout than other cedars.
  • Bark:
    Bark Description:
    The trunk of this tree should be grown with one leader.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Wind