Saturday, May 22, 2010

The Cedars

A small family of massive conifers that are distant relatives of the Pines. The Cedars prefer sites somewhat sheltered from wind, in full sun or partial shade and very well drained, deep, warm soil. They are tolerant of drought and chalky soils but are not especially pollution tolerant. Cedrus are rarely bothered by insect pests or disease, however bagworms may sometimes occur.
When young they are best trained to a single leader with the side branches sheared back ( think of a Christmas tree ). Eventually you would want to gradually limb up the tree as to get clearance to walk under.
* Cedar of Lebanon in Columbia, MD - taken Jan 2011


Cedrus atlantica ( Atlas Cedar )
A moderate to fast growing, dome-shaped, very large tree from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco & Algeria where it is now endangered.. A well grown Atlas Cedar can reach 80 feet or more. Records include: growth rate - 4 feet; 10 years - 30 x 16 feet; 18 years - 50 x 43 feet with trunk diameter of 1.3 feet; 60 years - 90 x 45 feet; 97 years - 140 feet with trunk diameter of 6.5 feet; 120 years - trunk diameter of 8 feet; largest on record - 240 x 100 feet with trunk diameter of 20 feet. In the U.S. one of 125 feet tall with a 5 foot trunk diameter grows in Santa Rosa, California. Large trees grow at Morris Arboretum and Longwood Gardens in the Philadelphia, PA region. Very variable in growth however one thing does not vary, a sparse tree while very young, the Atlas Cedar quickly grows into a truly spectacular tree!
The blue-green to light blue needles are up to 2 inches in vigorous shoots and shorter, shorter and forming short rosettes on older shoots.
The cones are barrel shaped and upright; up to 3 inches in length.
The bark is brown, smooth and shiny; becoming plated after 25 years.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun on well drained soil. It is very pollution tolerant.

* photo of unknown internet source


* photo taken on Feb 2009 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* Santiago, Chile

* photos taken on August 6 2010 @ Windsor, Ontario


* Photo taken on June 15 2011 in Clarksville, MD

* photos taken on June 17 2011 in Columbia, MD





* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore, PA


* photo taken on Oct 17 2011 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on Nov 12 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 1 2012 in Windsor, Ontario

* historical archive photos

* photos taken on June 30 2019 in Columbia, MD

* video found on Youtube





'Aurea' ( Golden Atlas Cedar )
Reaching up to 60 feet tall with golden-yellow tipped foliage.

'Fastigiata Glauca'
Narrow, upright, fastigiate habit, reaching a maximum size of 100 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 42 inches. Some records include: 10 years - 16 x 6 feet.

* photo taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey PA


'Glauca'
Similar to regular C. atlantica but with bright blue foliage.
Often come true from seed.

* photo taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park


* photo taken on May 7 2014 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photos taken on Nov 16 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 26 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 19 2016 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* historical archive photo

* photos taken on Dec 31 2016 in Columbia, MD







* photos taken on Mar 18 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD


* photos taken on June 9 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey PA

* photo taken on June 19 2023 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA

* photo taken on Aug 1 2022 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on July 3 2024 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash DC


'Glauca Pendula ( Weeping Atlas Cedar )
This is one of those cute little spirally bonsai trees often planted near swimming pools. While it can be pruned and trained, the Weeping Atlas Cedar left on it's own is not a small tree. Once established; the Weeping Atlas Cedar can be rapid growing reaching up to 10 x 20 feet and larger on ideal sites. Some records include: growth rate - 3 feet; 20 years - 33 x 52 feet; largest size possible - 60 x 100 feet with diameter of 50 inches.



* photos taken on Aug 1 2012 in Windsor, Ontario

* photos taken on Feb 8 2015 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken by Christian Pradenas on Oct 16 2015 in Eldersburg, MD

* photo taken on Nov 28 2015 in Harrisburg, PA

* photos taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey PA

* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photos taken on June 19 2023 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA

* photo taken on July 3 2024 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash DC


'Horstmanns Silver'
A compact, dense, horizontally branched, natural bonsai-like, dwarf version of Cedrus atlantica. It is slower growing and smaller in all its parts including it's icy blue needles, only up to an inch in length.
It reaches at most 10 x 6 ( averaging 6 x 4 ) feet in 10 years, 15 feet in 20 years and reaching a maximum size of 25 x 15 feet after a very long time if it is left unpruned.

* photo taken on June 24 2011 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on Sep 1 2011 in Harford Co, MD

* photo taken on Aug 17 2012 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Oct 23 2012 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on Feb 8 2015 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on June 2015 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on July 20 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photo taken on Sep 10 2023 @ Smithsonian Institute, Wash., DC

* photo taken on July 3 2024 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash DC

* photo taken on Oct 23 2024 in Columbia, MD


Cedrus brevifolia ( Cyprian Cedar )
Native to the sountern mountains in Cyprus in the Mediterranean at around 4500 feet elevation; this is typically a slow growing, medium size tree reaching around 60 feet. Moderate growing on ideal sites, some records include: growth rate 25 years - 60 feet; largest ever recorded - 120 x 40 feet with trunk diameter of 4 feet. The Cyprus Cedar is strongly pyramidal in habit and is not drooping.
The needles are short and gray-green to deep green, up to 1.3 inches in length.
The bark is silvery, cracking into vertical plates.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 ( reports of 5 unconfirmed )

Cedrus deodara ( Kashmir Cedar )
One of the worlds most majestic trees, it can reach 300 x 150 feet with trunk diameters of 16 feet in its native western Himilayas. In the U.S. trees have already grown 100 x 85 x 6' in Sacramento, California & 114' in Seattle. On ideal sites
records include: growth rate - 4 feet; 3 years - 10 feet; 6 years - 21 x 14 feet; 10 years - 30 x 8 feet with a trunk diameter of 6 inches; 20 years - 60 x 23 feet; 40 years - 70 feet; 60 years - trunk diameter of 3 feet; 130 years - trunk diameter of 5 feet.
Generally regarded as hardy from zone 7 south, 'Kashmir' and 'Shalimar' are hardy to zone 6 and can be found in places such as Boston, MA & Leamington, Ontario. 'Kashmir' is reported to have survived -25F in 1934 however protection from wind would still be essential in zone 6 in first few years. Selections of this tree from wild groves in the Paktia Provincec of Afghanistan may have great value in extending this trees range into colder climates.
The needles are generally 2 to sometimes 3" long and are green ( with exception of 'Sanders Blue' variety which is as blue as the Colorado Blue Spruce, and both 'Kashmir' and 'Shalimar' which are blue green ).
The barrel shaped cones are upright, to 5 inches in length.
The bark is brown and cracks vertically with age.
These trees are best planted in full sun in deep well drained soil and pruned to a single central leader when young.

* photo taken @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C. on August 2005

* photo taken on Feb 2009 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* Santiago, Chile

* photos of unknown internet source



* photo taken on May 3 2011 in Harford Co., MD
* photos taken on Oct 23 2012 in Harford Co., MD

* video found on Youtube



* photo taken on Aug 16 2012 in Clarksville, MD

* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photos taken on Feb 8 2014 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Apr 24 2016 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* historical archive photos


'Aurea' ( Golden Deodara Cedar )
A Golden foliaged variety of the Kashmir Cedar growing to 60 feet in height.
Very fast growing, some records include: 20 years - 37 x 17 feet; largest recorded - 100 x 55 feet
with trunk diameter of 43 inches.

* photo taken Feb 2009 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo of tree @ Univ of MD tree found on internet

* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore, PA



* photos taken on May 7 2014 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photos taken on June 1 2014 @ Maryland Horticulturalist Society garden tour, Clarksville

* photos taken on Feb 8 2015 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on Nov 14 2016 in Burtonsville, MD

* photo taken on Nov 19 2016 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photos taken on Mar 18 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on June 7 2019 @ Univ. of Maryland, College Park

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photo taken on July 3 2024 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash DC


'Blue Angel'
Very weeping with ice-blue foliage. Reaches up to 10+ feet in 10 years, eventually much larger.

'Blue Ice'
Bright blue foliage is as intense in color as Kosters Blue Spruce.

* photos taken on Oct 27 2023 in Columbia, MD


'Blue Snake'
Reaches up to 6 feet in height in 10 years if the main leader is staked, otherwise it is trailing. It is very weeping in habit with bright blue foliage.

'Cream Puff'
Dwarf in habit, reaching only 6 x 4 feet in 10 years, eventually slightly more, forming a rounded to broad-pyramidal shrub.
The bright creamy-yellow foliage is surprisingly sun scorch resistant.

'Devinely Blue'
A spreading, medium-sized shrub, reaching a maximum size of 5 feet x 13 feet, a miniature compared to the regular Kashmir Cedar. Very old plants may form a leader and reach up to 7 feet. Slow growing, some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 6 inches; 10 years - 5 x 5 feet.
The foliage is silvery-blue at first, aging to deeper blue.
Extremely heat tolerant, even in full sun in Dallas, Texas.


* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on Oct 14 2010 in Crownsville, MD


* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photos taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photo taken on Feb 8 2015 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on Mar 26 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash, D.C.

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC


'Eisregen'
Fast growing, elegant and narrow-conical in habit, reaching up to 50 x 25 feet, with very blue needles.
It is another unusual hardy selection, fully hardy in zone 6 that originated in Afghanistan's Paktia province.

'Electra Blue'
Dense, upright and conical in habit, reaching up to 25 x 6 feet in 12 years, eventually becoming a small tree. Shear for compact habit.
The foliage is bright blue.

* photo taken on Aug 24 2017 @ U.S. Botanic Garden, Wash. DC.


'Feeling Blue'
A trailing, cascading groundcover form, reaching up to 1.5 x 6 feet in 10 years, eventually up to 6 x 10 feet in size.
The foliage is icy-blue.
Hardy north to zone 6.

* photos taken on Feb 8 2015 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on Aug 24 2017 @ U.S. Botanic Garden, Wash. DC.

* photo taken on June 16 2019 in Elkridge, MD

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC


'Glacier Blue'
Slow growing, compact, dense and mounding in habit, reaching up to 4 feet in 10 years, with icy-blue foliage. It can eventually reach up to 5 x 7 feet.

'Golden Horizon'
Spreading in habit with gracefully weeping branches. Size in 10 years - 2.6 x 6 feet; record size - 6 x 33 feet. Foliage is golden-yellow

'Karl Fuchs'
Originating in Paktia province in Afghanistan, it is hardy throughout all zone 6 and possibly zone 5 though still being tested. It can even grow in central Michigan without winter damage.
Foliage is icy-blue.

* photo taken on July 15 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on June 5 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 21 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 23 2019 in Howard Co., MD

* photos taken on June 11 2019 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on Oct 2 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 21 2019 in Columbia, MD


'Kashmir'
A zone hardier than average.
Fast growing, it has a strong central leader and graceful pendulous side branches, remembling a Nootka Cypress in habit.


* Photo taken on June 15 2011 in Clarksville, MD

* photos taken on Aug 3 2014 @ National Zoo, Washington, DC

* photo taken on June 16 2016 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on Oct 2 2016 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on Nov 13 2016 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Nov 9 2017 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Mar 17 2018 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2018 in Harford Co., MD


'Mystic Ice'
Strongly central-leadered, dense and upright-narrow in habit, reaching up to 18 x 7 feet in 7 years, reaching up to 50 x 30 feet in 25 years, eventually more.
The foliage is silvery-blue. The leaves average 1.5" in length.
It is easily grown from cuttings.

* patent photo


'Prostrate Beauty'
A very low, spreading, groundcover form, reaching up to 1 x 8 feet in 10 years, with an eventual maximum size of 5 x 12 feet.
The foliage is silvery-blue.
Hardy north to zone 6.

* photo taken on Mar 7 2013 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photos taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photo taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photo taken on Aug 1 2022 in Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Sep 10 2023 @ Smithsonian Institute, Wash., DC


'Pygmaea'
A miniature globe, reaching a maximum size of 13 x 12 ( rarely over 9 x 9 ) feet after many decades. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 6 inches ( often no more than 1 inch ). The foliage is blue.

* photos taken on Feb 8 2015 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC


'Robusta'
Heavy branching and very long blue-green needles

'Shalimar'
Similar to Cedrus deodara but hardier ( north to zone 5 - known to survive -17 F with no leaf burn ), if originated from the mountains of Afghanistan. If forms a fast growing, graceful, narrow pyramidal tree with weeping side brances, somewhat like a Nootka Cypress. It also grows to equal size with equal vigor as regular Cedrus deodara would. The foliage is blue-green.

* photo taken on May 26 2013 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on Feb 8 2015 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC


'Silver Mist'
A dwarf, forming a dense, weeping, broad pyramid, reaching a maximum size of 6 x 6 ( often less than 3 - especially with pruning ) feet in 10 years, eventually to 15 x 15 feet.
The foliage is creamy-white.

* photo taken on Oct 22 2014 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photo taken on Nov 19 2016 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photo taken on July 21 2019 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Mar 7 2013 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Mar 18 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Aug 1 2022 in Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on May 6 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD


'Snow Sprite'
Irregularly mounding to eventually pyramidal in habit, reaching up to 10 x 7 feet in 2o years, eventually developing a central leader and reaching 15 feet or more.
The new foliage is bright creamy-white.

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

'Viridis'
Same as species with deep green foliage

Cedrus libani ( Cedar of Lebanon )
Yes this is the famous tree from the bible. It was for thousands of years the predominent lumber tree in the region centering around Lebanon and covered hillsides in the eastern Mediterranean. However after centuries of environmental degredation, it only remains left in a few isolated groves in the high mountains of Lebanon and a few of the more even hardier clone in the high mountains of s. Turkey. It is now endangered in the wild. However in Europe it has long been a very popular landscape tree and huge Lebanon Cedars are found on parks, estate lawns and city squares all from England to France, Spain, Italy & Greece. Though uncommon it is an excellent large landscape tree for much of the U.S. growing well on both the West Coast & the East. The Cedar of Lebanon where ever planted has the potential to grow HUGE to 100 feet or more! while 18 x 12 feet in 10 years is average, on good sites records include: growth rate - 4 feet; 10 years - 20 x 13 feet; 23 years - 62 x 27 feet with trunk diameter of 1.3 feet; 55 years - 75 x 64 feet with trunk diameter of 3.8 feet; largest ever recorded - 200 x 100 feet with trunk diameter of 15 feet!.
May be slower growing in zone 6 ( 'Stenacoma' grew to 36 x 20 feet in 25 years in Michigan ). One tree 110 feet tall and 5.5 feet in trunk diameter currently grows at Tyler Arboretum in Philly. The Cedar of Lebanon is also one of the worlds oldest living trees reaching up to 3000 years. Young trees are conical in shape with a stiff leading shoot. Older trees become spreading with massive horizontal limbs.
The needles are deep green and up to 1.5 inches in length.
The bark is brown, cracking into vertical plates.
The upright cones are barrel shaped and up to 5 inches in length. They are purple-green in color, eventually ripening to brown.
Hardy zone 6 to 9 and prefers deep soils. The variety 'Stenocoma' from the mountains of Turkey is even hardier down to zone 5 or -26 F extending it's range into the Midwest ( reported to grow well in both Indiana and Leamington, Ontario ). Cedar of Lebanon is very pollution tolerant.

* Cedar of Lebanon in Columbia, MD - taken Jan 2011

* photo taken @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C. on Feb 2009

* photo taken @ Tyler Arboretum near Philly on August 2004




* photo taken in Columbia, MD on April 2005


* photo of unknown internet source








* Cedar of Lebanon is found in the Bible and is the national tree of Lebanon as seen on the flag

* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore, PA



* photos taken on Oct 31 2013 @ Hampton Ntl. Historic Site, Towson, MD

* photos taken on Aug 3 2014 @ National Zoo, Washington, DC

* historical archive photos

* photo taken on Nov 9 2017 in Harford Co., MD

* videos found on Youtube





'Compte de Dijon'
A slow growing, horizontally branches shrub, reaching up to 3.3 feet height in 10 yers 5 feet in 20 years, eventually to 8 x 8 feet.
The foliage is gray-green.

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photo taken on Oct 23 2024 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash, DC


'Green Prince'
A very attractive, horizontally branched, rounded, dwarf form, reaching up to 4 x 2 feet in 10 years, with an eventual maximum size of 24 x 13 feet.
The densely-arranged, short needles are bright green at first, turning to deep green. Hardy zones 6 to 8.

* photo taken on Feb 8 2015 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC


'Nana'
Slow growing, dense & conical when young and eventually becoming flat topped and spreading. Size in 10 years - 4 x 5 feet; largest on record - 20 x 17 feet.

'Perdue Hardy'
Hardy zones 5 to 9, survived -26 F in Indiana where a large tree continues to grow at Perdue University.
Foliage is blue-green, otherwise similar to species.

'Sargentii'
Dwarf growing, naturally prostrate forming a dense mat but can be trained to form a weeping, dome shaped bush reaching up to 5 x 10 feet. Records include: 10 years - 20 inches x 6 feet; largest recorded - 6.6 x 13 feet

'Stenocoma'
Reported to be hardy to as low as -25 F and known to grow in Chicago, otherwise similar. It is even partially hardy at zone 4b Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa, Canada having survived as long as 7 and 12 years before succumbing to winter damage and a lawn mower. It even thrives at the Denver Botaanic Garden in Denver, Colorado.

* photo taken on Feb 8 2015 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* additional historic archive Cedrus libani photos

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