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Home > Cedar > Deodar Cedar

Deodar Cedar

Deodar cedar, sometimes referred to as the California Christmas tree, is a speciesof conifer occurring in the western Himalayas at an altitude of around 1,500 to 3,200 m.The tree is graceful with pendulous branches and comes in attractive coloring, ideally suited for use in landscaping.

Deodar Cedar

Deodar Cedar Tree

Scientific Classification

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

Feelin Blue Deodar Cedar

Golden Deodar Cedar

Quick Information

Other Names Himalayan Cedar, Deodar, Devadar, Devdar, Devadaru
Size 40 – 50 m in height, rarely 60 m; trunk diameter up to 3 m
Leaves Slender, needle-shaped, 2.5–5 cm long, rarely up to 7 cm; appears singly on long shoots and in clusters of 20 to 30 on short shoots;bright green to glaucous blue-green in color
Cones Female cones: Barrel-shaped, 7 – 13 cm long, 5 – 9 cm broad
Male cones: 4 – 6 cm long
Tree Type Evergreen
Shape at Maturity Pyramidal, conical crown
Distribution/Range Eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, India (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Darjeeling in West Bengal), south westernmost Tibet, western Nepal
Hardiness Zones 7 – 9
Lifespan Can live 1000 years
Growth Rate Medium; annual height increase is 13 – 24 in
Growing Conditions Temperature: Trees tend to die in temperatures below−25 °C (−13 °F)
Water Requirement: Tolerates drought well
Sunlight:Requires full sun
Soil Requirement: Prefers moist, acidic, loamy, sandy, clay  and well-drained soils
Flowering/Fruiting October – November; monoecious; produces flowers less frequently in comparison  to other cedars; pollens are shed in Autumn
Seed Production Commercial seed bearing starts from 30 to 45 years of age; female cones mature in 12 months and disintegrate on attaining maturity to shed the  seeds
Problems/Diseases/Pests Vulnerable to honey fungi, root rot, tip blight
Wildlife Value Provides nesting sites, food, and cover for mammals and birds
Cultivars/Varieties There are numerous cultivars including Argentea, Golden Deodar Cedar,Karl Fuchs, Feelin Blue, Sanders Blue,Feelin Sunny, Weeping Deodar Cedar, Kashmir,AureaPendula, Blue Dwarf, Blue Mountain Broom, Pygmy
Uses Inner wood is used in making incense and essential oils;good source of timber especially as a building material; earlier used for construction of barracks, bridges, public buildings, railway cars, and canals; used as an ornamental tree, living Christmas trees, and bonsai
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern

Dwarf Deodar Cedar

Karl Fuchs Deodar Cedar

Weeping Deodar Cedar

Kashmir Deodar Cedar

Interesting Facts

  • The tree has a unique branching pattern, with its wood being stronger than most other conifers.
  • Cedar oil has aromatic properties and is used in aromatherapy while its antifungal properties are beneficial for storing food in rooms built with cedar wood. The stem and outer bark of the tree has astringent properties.
  • The essential oil from deodar cedar is used as an insect repellent on the feet of horses, camels, and cattle.The crude oil, on the other hand,is used in making floor polishes, soap perfumes, household sprays and insecticides.
  • The tree has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
  • It is Pakistan’s national tree.
  • In ancient Indian culture, the deodar forests were regarded as a sacred place where sages used to meditate. InHimachal Pradesh, people with asthma and other respiratory trouble are now recommended to sit under this tree early in the morning.

Sanders Blue Deodar Cedar

Deodar Cedar Cones

References:

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedrus_deodara
  2. https://sites.redlands.edu/trees/species-accounts/deodar-cedar/
  3. https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=807
  4. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:676701-1
  5. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cedrus+deodara

Published on December 14th 2016 by Sajal Datta under Cedar.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.

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