Incense Ceder Calocedrus decurrens
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Libocedrus decurrens
- Thuja decurrens
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-oh-SEE-druss DEK-ur-enz
- Description
-
In addition to its aromatic and showy foliage, this conifer sports interesting exfoliating gray-brown bark and showy male and female cones. Its form is broadly conical with spreading branches. The branchlets are flattened and terminate in dense, fan-like sprays. The dark green leaves emit an aromatic odor when crushed. The small male cones are yellow. The female cones are cylindrical and are composed of 6 paired, flattened, and pointed scales. In early fall, as the female cones open, they resemble a ducks-bill. They ripen in late summer at lower elevations and a month or so later when situated at higher elevations.
It will adapt to a variety of soils, however, it prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil. It typically does not develop winter burn.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Issues may include heart rot and rust. A difficult tree to transplant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aureo-variegata'
Yellow variegation. - 'Berrima Gold'
Yellow-green foliage, turning orange-gold in winter. - 'Columnaris'
Upright, columnar cultivar. - 'Maupin Glow'
Yellow and green foliage.
- 'Aureo-variegata'
- 'Aureo-variegata', 'Berrima Gold', 'Columnaris', 'Maupin Glow'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aureo-variegata'
Yellow variegation. - 'Berrima Gold'
Yellow-green foliage, turning orange-gold in winter. - 'Columnaris'
Upright, columnar cultivar. - 'Maupin Glow'
Yellow and green foliage.
- 'Aureo-variegata'
- 'Aureo-variegata', 'Berrima Gold', 'Columnaris', 'Maupin Glow'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Calocedrus
- Species:
- decurrens
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western U.S.A., Mexico
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Textural
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- heat and drought
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- No fruit, .75-in. seedbearing cones; reddish-brown in fall; remains until spring
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Flowers:
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Conifer, no flowers
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Shiny, dark green foliage in vertical sprays; holds color in winter
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-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Green
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- The exfoliating, scaly bark provides winter interest.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
