Native to the Himalayas, Deodar Cedar is an evergreen conifer that is pyramidal when young, maturing to flat-topped trees with broad-spreading horizontal branching.
Deodar Cedars are perhaps the most pendulous of the true cedars, with drooping branchlets and branching that is gracefully drooping at the tips. Lower branches typically remain on the tree as it ages, often touching the ground.
This is a moderate-growing tree that typically matures to 40 to 70 feet tall in its first 25 years. In their native habitat, trees reportedly will grow much taller over time, sometimes reaching 150 to 200 feet tall. Dark grayish-green needles to 1.25 inches long appear in clusters, with upright cones to 4 inches long.
Most cultivars of Deodar Cedar will grow into large and handsome specimen trees that need plenty of room. Use these in the back of a large landscape so they can be seen in their entirety. From a distance, deodar is dense and plumose with a fine texture. With proper pruning, Deodar Cedars can be maintained as a hedge.
Leaf: Evergreen needles, dark green but may have some silvery bloom giving them a blue-green color; 1 to 2 inches long, sharp-pointed; occur singly on new growth and then later on spur shoots; remaining on the tree for 3 to 6 years.
Flower: Monoecious; male cones 2 to 3 inches long on the lower parts of the crown; female cones erect, purplish, occur on upper portions of the crown.
Fruit: Upright cones, 3 to 4 inches long and 3 inches across; deciduous scales; initially green and purplish, then later turning a reddish brown when mature, usually resinous.
Twig: Slender, with numerous short spur shoots, branches droop with age; buds are very small and round.
Bark: Initially smooth and gray-brown, later developing short furrows with scaly ridge tops.
Form: Young trees have a broad pyramidal crown that becomes wider with age; branch tips and leaders droop and have a fine texture. In the landscape, it can reach 80 feet tall but becomes much taller in its native range.
Other Names: Deodar Cedar, Himalayan Cedar
Zone: 7 to 8
Growth Rate: Moderate
Plant Type: Needled Evergreen Conifer
Family: Pinaceae
Native Range: Himalayas
Height: 40 to 70 feet
Spread: 30 to 40 feet
Shape: Pyramidal, Pendulous Branches
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Fall Color: Evergreen
Drought Tolerance: Moderate to High
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Site Requirements /Soil Tolerances: Best grew in deep, moist but well-drained, acidic loams in full sun. Drought tolerant once established. Intolerant of poorly drained wet soils. Site young trees in locations protected from winter winds.
Culture:
Uses Specimen trees for large lawns. Prune as a screen or hedge. Bonsai.
Sowing Cedrus deodara Seeds:
For best results, please follow the instructions in the order provided.
Scarify: Soak in water for 24 hours
Stratify Cold for 30 days, 40 Degrees F in a Moist Medium (Not wet).
Germination: Sow 1/4” Deep, Keep Moist (Not wet).
