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THE GARDEN SAGEA library of living things
Trees & woodland lore · Western North Carolina field companion

Deodar cedar

Cedrus deodara

Whole tree — Cedrus deodara. Species reference; the photographed specimen does not confirm the named variety. Age, pruning, and site affect its shape.
Whole tree — Cedrus deodara. Species reference; the photographed specimen does not confirm the named variety. Age, pruning, and site affect its shape.☀ Full sunCathy Dewitt ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.

Needles in dense short-shoot clusters

Sun Exposure
Full sun
MATURE HEIGHT (FT)
30–50
MATURE WIDTH (FT)
30–40
BLOOM SEASON
Spring
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Get to know this plant.

Identification clue 1

Needles in dense short-shoot clusters

Identification clue 2

Often drooping branch tips

Identification clue 3

Large upright barrel-like cones

Diseases & insects in WNC

Problems to recognize in WNC gardens. These are documented susceptibilities, not a local outbreak report or a diagnosis. Weather, elevation and growing conditions change the risk.

Diseases & similar-looking injury

Armillaria and Phytophthora root rots can cause decline.

Insects to recognize

Scale, borers and sawflies are possible pests.

When to look

Inspect roots and drainage after wet periods, and foliage during the growing season.

A useful first step

Check drainage and investigate progressive thinning or boring debris rather than relying on needle color alone.

More growing details

Read the leaves

Many needles radiate from each short woody spur. This rosette differs from a pine's two-, three-, or five-needle bundle.

Read the bark

Gray bark becomes dark and fissured with age.

Fruit & seed

Upright barrel-shaped cones break apart on the tree; full cones are less likely to be found intact below it.

Winter character

Evergreen needle rosettes and pendent leaders support the cedar identification.

Origin & place

An introduced garden species or horticultural hybrid; study it as part of WNC landscapes rather than assume it belongs to the native mountain flora.

WNC Notes

Use a cold-hardy selection on protected lower-elevation sites; winter injury possible in exposed Zone 7a.

Sun Exposure

Full sun

MATURE HEIGHT (FT)

30–50

MATURE WIDTH (FT)

30–40

BLOOM SEASON

Spring

BLOOM COLOR

Inconspicuous

FALL / WINTER COLOR

Evergreen

Wet-Soil Tolerance

High

Drought Tolerance

Low

LOOK CLOSELY

Two views, a closer look.

Place two photographs beside one another. Compare the overall plant with leaves, flowers, or bark when those views are available. Captions identify what each photograph actually shows. Images are not at the same scale; species references may show different cultivars.

Whole tree — Cedrus deodara. Species reference; the photographed specimen does not confirm the named variety. Age, pruning, and site affect its shape.
Whole tree — Cedrus deodara. Species reference; the photographed specimen does not confirm the named variety. Age, pruning, and site affect its shape.☀ Full sunCathy Dewitt ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.
Cedrus deodara. Taxon reference; photograph alone does not establish a named cultivar.
Cedrus deodara. Taxon reference; photograph alone does not establish a named cultivar.☀ Full sunCathy Dewitt ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; no diagnostic content altered.
Upright developing cones of deodar cedar — species reference; cultivar identity not inferred.
Upright developing cones of deodar cedar — species reference; cultivar identity not inferred.☀ Full sunPhoto by Dinesh Valke ↗ · CC-BY-SA 2.0
Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.

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