Blue Atlas Cedar Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'

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.