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Atlas Cedar

Atlas Cedar is a species of picturesque coniferous tree found in the Atlas Mountain Range of Morocco and Algeria at an altitude of 1,370-2,200m. It has a loose pyramidal form when young, and its striking green or bluish-green foliage, along with its long branches, spread rapidly, becoming flat-topped with age. When given enough room to grow freely, it can reach up to a height of 40m, and its crown can spread up to 12m.

Atlas Cedar

Blue Atlas Cedar

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Plantae
Division	Pinophyta
Class	Pinopsida
Order	Pinales
Family	Pinaceae
Genus	Cedrus
Scientific Name	Cedrus atlantica

Atlas Cedar Tree

Atlas Blue Cedar

Quick Information

Similar to	Lebanon cedar
Size	Large trees with a fairly straight trunk and horizontal lateral branches; 30-35 m tall with 1.5-2 m trunk diameter
Leaves	Simple, needle-like leaves with spiral arrangement and parallel venation; the blade length is about 10-25 mm; no change in fall color
Flowers	The flowers are not showy; female flowers grow on the upper part of the tree while the male flowers are found in the lower parts; female flowers mature into cones
Cones	Average size of 9 cm but may grow up to 12 cm; oval or conical male cones that are green when young, but turn brown with age; purple female cones are found on the upper branches; has a dry and hard fruit covering
Tree Type	Evergreen
Branches	May droop and not showy
Distribution/Range	In Morocco, around the Northern High-, Middle-, and Oriental-Atlas range; in the Central and Western Rif Mountains; in Algeria, around the Aures and Djurdjura Mountains
Hardiness Zones	6-9
Growth Rate	Grows slowly with an annual height increase of 12 inches
Growing Conditions	Humidity: Grows in the humid regions of its native range Winter Conditions: Can survive in moderate cold but does not prefer areas that receive heavy snow Summer Conditions: Tolerates hot and dry weather Rain: Moderate rainfall Sunlight: Thrives when exposed to direct sunlight; partial shade is also important for growth Soil Requirements: Adapted to alkaline, acidic, sandy, loamy, moist, rich, and well-drained soils; it is also tolerant to drought
Diseases and Pests	No great harm is caused by diseases or pests; sometimes affected by the Deodar weevil, tip blight, black scale, and root rots; sap suckers may puncture small holes in the tree trunk
Wildlife Value	Forms pure, as well as mixed forests, on the Atlas Mountains in Morocco providing a suitable natural environment for the endangered species of Barbary macaque; different species of birds use these trees for nesting and roosting
Cultivars	C. atlantica cv. ‘Glauca’: Commonly known as the blue Atlas cedar; it has an erect form with the typical blue-green needles C. atlantica cv. ‘Glauca Pendula’: An attractive Atlas cedar with a weeping form and icy-blue needles; it is a great addition to rock gardens as a specimen tree and can get a dramatic serpentine form when trained to grow in a specific direction C. atlantica cv. ‘Horstmann’: A semi-dwarf variety of Atlas cedar; used for landscaping when space is inadequate C. atlantica cv. ‘Fastigiata’: Has symmetrical columnar shape with densely spaced branches C. atlantica cv. ‘Argentea’: Has silvery-white needles C. atlantica cv. ‘Aurea Robusta’: Has yellowish-green needles
Uses	As specimen and ornamental trees in landscaping and gardening; for timber production; bonsai
IUCN Conservation Status	Endangered

Blue Atlas Cedar Christmas Tree

Atlas Cedar Pictures

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar

Interesting Facts

The Atlas cedar produces natural oil with a distinctive smell that deters pests and insects. This is the reason cedar wood is used in making furniture.
The South Lawn of White House in Washington, DC has an Atlas cedar, in which President Carter had a treehouse designed and built for his daughter Amy Lynn Carter.