Cedar, Atlas
Cedrus atlantica
Pinaceae - Pine
Description
Leaves: Needles borne singly; 3/4" to 1-1/2" long; stiff; evergreen; usually blue-green; four-sided but somewhat flattened in cross-section; pointed tip; spirally arranged on new growth, on older growth occurring in dense clusters of 30 to 40 on short spur shoots.
Twigs/buds: Twigs somewhat downy or glabrous; less densely-branched than Cedrus libani. Buds small and ovoid, with few scales.
Flowers/fruit: Monoecious. Seed cones fir-like, upright; mature in two seasons; about 2" to 3" long and 2" wide; green when young, brown at maturity.
Bark: Smooth and gray on young stems; older stems with dark gray-brown furrowed bark.
Wood: Not important except locally where native.
General: Native to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Algeria. Slow to medium growth rate. Likes warm sites, with good moisture but deep, well-drained soils. Shade intolerant.
Landscape Use: Excellent specimen tree with beautiful canopy and good color. Supposedly zones 6-9, but doing well in several Salt Lake City locations and in Utah County at BYU, and in Cache County on the USU campus and elsewhere.
Cultivars: 'Argentea', 'Aurea', 'Compacta', 'Fastigiata', 'Glauca', 'Glauca Pendula', 'Horstmann', 'Horstmann Silberspitz', 'Pendula'.
Characteristics
General
Family | Pinaceae - Pine |
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Cultivar Availability | Yes |
Hardiness Zone | 6-9 |
Type | Conifer |
Utah Native | No |
Growth
Growth Rate | Low |
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Mature Height | High |
Longevity | High |
Is Good Under Power Lines | No |
Crown Shapes | Pyramidal |
Ornamental
Bark | Yes |
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Fall Color | No |
Flowers | No |
Foliage | Yes |
Fruit | Yes |
Tolerance
Shade | Medium |
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Salt | Medium |
Drought | Medium |
Poor Drainage | Low |
Alkalinity | Medium |
Transplanting | Low |