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Similar but less problematic plants:
Cedrus atlantica Cedrus atlantica bark
Cedrus libani Cedrus libani
Cedrus deodara is often confused with:
Cedrus atlantica Cedrus atlantica bark
Cedrus deodara 'Devinely Blue' Cedrus deodara 'Devinely Blue'
Cedrus deodara 'Karl Fuchs' Cedrus deodara 'Karl Fuchs'
Native alternative(s) for Cedrus deodara:
Pinus strobus Pinus strobus
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Juniperus virginiana Juniperus virginiana
Myrica cerifera Myrica cerifera
Ulmus americana Full Form
Cedrus deodara has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers
Cedrus deodara has some common disease problems:
Cedar Apple Rust
Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape

Himalayan Cedar Cedrus deodara

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Himalayan Cedar:

Phonetic Spelling
SEE-drus dee-oh-DAR-uh
Description

Deodar cedar is a fine textured evergreen tree in the Pinaceae (pine) family native from Tibet to Afghanistan.    Its form is broadly pyramidal when young; its pendulous or weeping branches become wide and spreading, as its central leader often dies out.  Growing at a moderate rate of 13" to 24" per year, this tree typically reaches heights of 50', however, in their native habitats, they can reach heights of up to 150' to 200'.

Plant it in a rich, well-drained and somewhat dry, sunny location with protection from winds. It is intolerant of poorly drained wet soils and can be easily damaged by frost.  Transplant it easily if it has been root pruned.

Considered to be one of the most graceful conifers, it works well as a specimen, in landscape groupings or as a screen but be sure to consider its large mature size when siting a location. Its year-round gray-green color provides interest in a winter garden along with providing cover and nesting sites for birds and small mammals.  With its lower branches removed, it makes an attractive, interesting street tree. Due to its messy habits, placement as a street tree should include considering the distance from sidewalks and street paving.   This tree is resistant to damage by deer and is moderately salt tolerant.   

An aromatic oil is produced by this conifer that naturally deters insects.  

Quick ID Hints:

  • needles, elongate, pliable, 1-2"
  • grayish-green color, light blue apically
  • needles multiple on dwarf shoots
  • male cones gigantic, erect
  • all Cedrus genus member have new needles that are born singly on stems
  • needles are triangular to quadrangular in cross-section
  • female wood barrel-shaped cones sit on top of the branches

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Susceptible to beetle borers, arillaira, phytophthora, root rot, and sooty mold.

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.

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Albospica'
    Silver/white foliage, slow growing.
  • 'Aurea'
    Yellow or golden foliage, upright.
  • 'Bush's Electra'
    Yellow/green needles, ascending branches.
  • 'Devinely Blue' Cedrus deodara 'Devinely Blue'
    Blue-green to powder blue foliage sits on branches with drooping tips
  • 'Eisregen'
    Cold hardy, blue/green foliage.
  • 'Electra Blue'
    Medium growth rate, light, yellow/green needles in spring.
  • 'Feelin' Blue'
    Bluish foliage, prostrate dwarf.
  • 'Glacier Blue'
    Dwarf with bluish foliage.
  • 'Gold Cascade'
    Yellow/gold foliage, dwarf.
  • 'Gold Cone'
    Golden outer needles, bluish/green inner needles.
  • 'Golden Horizon'
    Yellow/gold foliage, shrubby form.
  • 'Karl Fuchs' Cedrus deodara 'Karl Fuchs'
    Blue/gray needles, 10'
  • 'Kashmir'
    Cold hardy, blue green needles, 25'.
  • 'Mylor'
    Dwarf habit.
  • 'Pendula' Cedrus deodara 'Pendula'
    Tumbling, pendulous growth
  • 'Prostrate Beauty'
    Low growing, dense/mounding/spreading form. Bluish foliage.
  • 'Shalimar'
    Cold-hardy
  • 'Siberspitz'
    Upright, short thin needles tinges with silvery/white.
  • 'Silver Mist'
    White/silver foliage, dwarf.
  • 'Snow Sprite' Cedrus deodara 'Snow Sprite'
    Globular form
'Albospica', 'Aurea', 'Bush's Electra', 'Devinely Blue', 'Eisregen', 'Electra Blue', 'Feelin' Blue', 'Glacier Blue', 'Gold Cascade', 'Gold Cone', 'Golden Horizon', 'Karl Fuchs', 'Kashmir', 'Mylor', 'Pendula', 'Prostrate Beauty', 'Shalimar', 'Siberspitz', 'Silver Mist', 'Snow Sprite'
Tags:
#weeping#evergreen#sculptural#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#specimen#blue green needles#conifer#frost tender#bonsai#showy leaves#pendulous#cover plant#winter interest#street tree#lawn tree#small mammals#salt spray tolerant#messy#buffer#spreading#deer resistant#screening#fantz#nesting sites#messy fruits#humidity tolerant#bird friendly#recreational areas#wet soils intolerant#landscape plant sleuths course#long lived#wildlife friendly#cpp#hs111#hs303
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Albospica'
    Silver/white foliage, slow growing.
  • 'Aurea'
    Yellow or golden foliage, upright.
  • 'Bush's Electra'
    Yellow/green needles, ascending branches.
  • 'Devinely Blue' Cedrus deodara 'Devinely Blue'
    Blue-green to powder blue foliage sits on branches with drooping tips
  • 'Eisregen'
    Cold hardy, blue/green foliage.
  • 'Electra Blue'
    Medium growth rate, light, yellow/green needles in spring.
  • 'Feelin' Blue'
    Bluish foliage, prostrate dwarf.
  • 'Glacier Blue'
    Dwarf with bluish foliage.
  • 'Gold Cascade'
    Yellow/gold foliage, dwarf.
  • 'Gold Cone'
    Golden outer needles, bluish/green inner needles.
  • 'Golden Horizon'
    Yellow/gold foliage, shrubby form.
  • 'Karl Fuchs' Cedrus deodara 'Karl Fuchs'
    Blue/gray needles, 10'
  • 'Kashmir'
    Cold hardy, blue green needles, 25'.
  • 'Mylor'
    Dwarf habit.
  • 'Pendula' Cedrus deodara 'Pendula'
    Tumbling, pendulous growth
  • 'Prostrate Beauty'
    Low growing, dense/mounding/spreading form. Bluish foliage.
  • 'Shalimar'
    Cold-hardy
  • 'Siberspitz'
    Upright, short thin needles tinges with silvery/white.
  • 'Silver Mist'
    White/silver foliage, dwarf.
  • 'Snow Sprite' Cedrus deodara 'Snow Sprite'
    Globular form
'Albospica', 'Aurea', 'Bush's Electra', 'Devinely Blue', 'Eisregen', 'Electra Blue', 'Feelin' Blue', 'Glacier Blue', 'Gold Cascade', 'Gold Cone', 'Golden Horizon', 'Karl Fuchs', 'Kashmir', 'Mylor', 'Pendula', 'Prostrate Beauty', 'Shalimar', 'Siberspitz', 'Silver Mist', 'Snow Sprite'
Tags:
#weeping#evergreen#sculptural#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#specimen#blue green needles#conifer#frost tender#bonsai#showy leaves#pendulous#cover plant#winter interest#street tree#lawn tree#small mammals#salt spray tolerant#messy#buffer#spreading#deer resistant#screening#fantz#nesting sites#messy fruits#humidity tolerant#bird friendly#recreational areas#wet soils intolerant#landscape plant sleuths course#long lived#wildlife friendly#cpp#hs111#hs303
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cedrus
    Species:
    deodara
    Family:
    Pinaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North Eastern Afghanistan to Western Nepal and NW. India
    Fire Risk Rating:
    high flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    Squirrels frequent this trees cones. Birds, including the woodpecker, as well as small mammals use it for nesting, cover and a source of food.
    Play Value:
    Buffer
    Screening
    Textural
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Nesting
    Dimensions:
    Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Conical
    Pyramidal
    Spreading
    Weeping
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Spring
    Fruit Length:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits, male cones are solitary on short branchlets, ovoid, or oblong ovoid, 3-4" long by approximately 2" broad; apex rounded. They are typically numerous on the lower branches. They will fall to the ground in the fall after releasing clouds of yellow pollen. 3-4 in. bluish green cones on female trees.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers. Each tree has separate male and female reproductive parts.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Prickly
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Filiform
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    1-2 in. blue-green, sharp pointed needles; 15 to 20 per whorl. Needle-like, glaucous or silvery, sharply pointed.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Black
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Fissured
    Smooth
    Bark Plate Shape:
    Irregular
    Bark Description:
    Young trees have smooth gray bark cracking d into dark gray plates and fissuring into dark brown to black.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Spur like stems.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Recreational Play Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Hedge
    Screen/Privacy
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Street Tree
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Heat
    Humidity
    Salt
    Problems:
    Messy