Learn About Different Types of Cedar Trees With Pictures
Cedar trees are huge perennial conifers with sharp leaves on fragrant wooden branches. Cedars flourish in full light and well-draining ground at higher elevations. The genus Cedrus, which belongs to the Pinaceae family, comprises of four true cedar tree species.
Atlas cedar has deep green leaves, Cyprian cedar has blueish green tips, Cedrus deodara has vibrant green spines and somewhat big cones, and Cedrus libani has pale, bluish-green leaves.
The all types of cedar trees are described in this article. We’ll also look at several additional trees that go by the name cedar but aren’t true cedars in the scientific definition.
Jump To
- Deodar Cedar
- Northern White Cedar
- Yellow Cedar
- Cedar Of Lebanon
- Red Cedar Tree
- Atlas Cedar
- Atlantic White Cedar
- Cyprus Cedar
- Incense Cedar
- Port Orford Cedar
- Japanese Cedar
- Spanish Cedar
- Alaskan Cedar
Are All Cedars True Cedars?
No, the Cedrus family includes true cedar trees like Cedrus Atlantica. False cedars, on the other hand, are members of the Cupressaceae family. True cedars in this group includes Thuja plicata and Juniperus virginiana.
However, people often consider false cedars as a cedar on the basis of their appearance and aromatic wood.
What Are The Different Types of Cedars?
1. Deodar Cedar
Due to its natural location, it is also known as Himalayan cedar. Its botanical and popular names both imply “wood of the gods.” Deodar cedars are big evergreen conifer trees with a characteristic conical form that grow quickly.
Deodar cedar trees may grow up to 160 feet (48 metres) tall in the Himalayan Mountains’ deciduous forest. However, in a parkland or garden area, these are variety of cedar trees that rarely exceed 50 feet (15 metres) in height and spread.
2. Northern White Cedar
These cypress plants are known by the generic term Thuja occidentalis, which they share with juniper species. These fake cedars don’t go much taller than 50 feet (15 m).
Northern white cedars thrive in full sunlight and wet soil. When we talk about types of cedar trees Thujas are popular as specimen landscaping plants or as a naturalistic, living screen due to their everlasting greenery, vivid foliage, and beautiful form. and beautiful form.
3. Yellow Cedar
Yellow cedar, scientifically known as Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis, is a moderate sized tree that can reach a height of 24 meters and a diameter of 90 cm and can live for 1000 years. This is among the variety of cedar trees that has a wide, fluted trunk that widens out towards the base. The crown is formed like a cone.
4. Cedar Of Lebanon
Due to its horizontally spreading branches, Cedrus libani, or Lebanon cedars, are among the most recognizable kinds of real cedar tree species. These perennial conifers are massive trees that may grow to be 130 feet tall. The adult trunks of these real cedars sometimes divide into multiple individual ones, which is a unique trait.
5. Red Cedar Tree
These juniper species, botanically classified as Juniperus virginiana, are robust trees that can resist harsh circumstances such as drought. The eastern red types of cedar trees seldom grows taller than a tiny shrub-like evergreen tree in various growth circumstances. However, under optimum conditions, this fake cedar may reach a height of 66 feet.
6. Atlas Cedar
The Cedrus Atlantica or Atlas cedar is a real cedar tree species that resembles Lebanon cedar variations. These cedars are ideal for larger backyard gardens. In garden settings, they seldom grow taller than 40 feet (12 metres) and are best suited to direct sunlight and hot, dry climates.
7. Atlantic White Cedar
The Atlantic White Cedar, knowns as Chamaecyparis thyoides, one of the types of cedar trees, is a perennial cypress tree that grows 60 to 80 feet tall and has a diameter of 2 feet. The leaf is scale-like and ranges in shade from green to turquoise. The bark is quite brittle and has crisscrossing uniform ridges that twist downwards the stem.
8. Cyprus Cedar
Cedrus brevifolia is its scientific name, brevifolia, means “little foliage” and relates to its tiny needles and restricted growth. The Cyprian cedar is one of the most uncommon kinds of cedar trees. The Cyprian cedar tree can grow to be around 80 feet (24 metres) tall. However, when grown, the ornamental tree does not grow bigger than 50 feet (15 m).
9. Incense Cedar
The scientific name of Incense cedar is Calocedrus decurrens. The massive tree is a variety of cedar trees that has a pyramidal crown of extending branches that produce delicate, scale-like leaves. The fragrant fake cedar tree may reach heights of 130 to 195 feet (40 to 60 metres). The tree’s seed cones are around 2.5 cm tall and orange-yellowish in appearance.
10. Port Orford Cedar
The Port Orford-Cedar scientifically knowns as Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, is a huge conifer cedar tree species. This perennial can reach a height of 200 feet, has a trunk width of 4-7 feet, with leaves that are 3-5mm long. The Port Orford Cedar, in addition to its amazing size, can survive for centuries.
11. Japanese Cedar
The next one in the list of types of cedar trees Cryptomeria japonica, commonly known as Japanese cedar, is a thorny evergreen tree belongs to central and southern Japan and China in the cypress family. It has a helical to pyramid shape and can grow to be 50 to 70 feet in height.
12. Spanish Cedar
The Spanish cedar commonly known as Cedrela Odorata, unlike other real and fake cedar tree species, is endemic to tropical areas. This faux cedar tree is drought tolerant and grows well in direct sunlight and well-draining ground. This medium-sized tree may reach heights of 33 to 98 feet (10 to 30 metres).
13. Alaskan Cedar
The yellow cedar also knowns as Cupressus nootkatensis, is a false variety of cedar trees that belongs to the cypress family rather than the genus Cedrus. This cypress is distinguished by its delicate green, feathery leaves and drooping branches.
These lovely false cedars, also known as Nootka cypress, make excellent tall privacy hedges or hedgerows.
How Do I Identify A Cedar Tree?
By examining their everlasting needle leaves, you can tell the different types of cedar trees with pictures. Cedrus genus trees contain needle bunches on woody nails. However, fake cedars, which are essentially cypress trees, have delicate, flaky feather-like leaves.
What Is A Cedar Leaf Called? Is Cedar Leaf Edible?
The groupings of cedar branchlets and foliage together are called sprays. Cedar leaves form a symbiotic relationship with branchlets. The cypress family includes cedar trees. Their leaves are thin, needle-like, and perennial. Many cedar species may be found in North America.
Juniper or Juniperus virginiana is an edible cedar tree species. Although uncommon, taking enormous quantities of the plant or its essential oil can cause severe toxicity.
What Are Some Cedar Tree Uses?
Cedarwood oil that come from special kinds of cedar trees, naturally repels moths. As a result, it’s utilized to make furniture pieces like wardrobes for storing wooden clothing due to their durability and lightweight. It’s made into shingles.
Cedar is also ideal for making musical instruments because it is resistant to erosion and deformation. It is appropriate for internal panelling in rooms throughout the home because to its resistance to warping.
Cedar Tree Care and Diseases
Keep an eye out for curled or yellow leaves for cedar tree care. This is generally a symptom of aphid or scale infestation on cedars. To get rid of the pests, spray the foliage with a powerful stream of water from a hose pipe, paying specific attention to the underparts of the leaves.
Another technique to get clear of aphids and plates is to use pesticidal soap or gardening oil on the leaves. Check for sap leaks and withered branch tips. These are symptoms of pine beetles, in different cedar tree species, which are difficult to control and eradicate.
To get rid of the affected branches and avoid the beetles from inhabiting the healthy sections of all kinds of cedar trees you must trim them.
FAQs
Q. What is the most common type of cedar?
Ans . When we talk about types of cedar trees, true cedars come in four different species. Their names frequently serve as indicators of where they might be found growing. Cedrus libani, Cedrus Atlantica, Cedrus Deodara and Cedrus brevifolia are the most common types of cedar.
Q. Does a cedar tree smell good?
Ans. Cedarwood is a delightfully pleasant fragrance that comes from a resilient evergreen tree and lasts throughout winter. Cedarwood has a woody aroma since it originates from variety of cedar trees.
Cedarwood has tangy nuances and a camphoraceous odour that evokes an antique hope chest or a fine cologne.
This fragrant wood is reminiscent of pencil shavings and elegant cigarette cases, which are both commonly made from cedar. Cedarwood is frequently used in scented candles and other scented items.
Q. Is cedar a pine tree?
Ans. No, although they are both members of the Pinaceae family, cedar is not really a pine tree. However, they have distinct properties and applications. Also, the sizes of pine and cedar trees are vastly different. That is why a cedar tree is not really a pine tree, and vice versa. They have individual traits.
The primary group of cedar and pine tree is Pinaceae. They are both members of the same family, and they’re not the same cedar tree species. It’s as though they’re twins with unique personalities.
Cedar and pine, on the other side, are both medium-sized trees. That is the primary difference between cedar and pine trees.
Q. What is the difference between Cypress and cedar?
A. On the surface, the colours of cypress and cedar trees are similar. The distinction among cypress and cedar is due to the fact that cypress is somewhat denser than cedar wood.
All the variety of cedar trees is mostly recognised for their fragrant wood, which generates a sort of oil that provides cedar wood its powerful fragrance. Whereas when cypress wood is cut, it emits a distinct scent.
Some people describe the fragrance as earthy, while others describe it as cedar-like, and some sources describe it as sour.
They are, however, two different kinds of plants that are not taxonomically linked. They are both members of the subclass Pinidae, however they are in separate orders.
Q. Are juniper and cedar trees the same?
Ans. Cedar is an umbrella term for “true” cedars that are the members of the genus Cedrus and apparently false cedars too.
Junipers are plants in the genus Juniperus. As a result, one would wonder, what kinds of cedar trees are similar to junipers? Well, the cedar grows to be a very huge tree, but the juniper seldom grows taller than 40 feet.
Q. How can I tell what kind of cedar tree I have?
Ans. The fundamental taxonomic criteria for tree classification are used to identify the types of cedar trees. Even though plant characteristics differ significantly across species, you may recognize a cedar tree by analysing several aspects such as foliage, wood, branching structure, reproductive organs, and tree height.
This tree’s leaves are perennial and remain on the tree year-round. The foliage is often needle-shaped, with each needle overlapping the other. The wood is thin, brown to reddish in appearance, brittle, and wrinkled vertically.
The bark can be readily peeled off in small pieces. Cedar trees are dioecious, which means that male & female flowers bloom on distinct trees. You can also find 100s of different types of cedar trees with pictures on the internet.
Q. How can you tell a male cedar tree?
Ans. To begin, find if the tree you’re studying is dioecious or monoecious. Once you’ve determined that, you should look for other distinguishing male and female characteristics to make the gender identification procedure as failsafe as possible for you.
If the tree has blooms, keep in mind that while pollen season has begun, the ends of male flowers on the Cedrus libani commonly known as cedar of Lebanon, are grimy looking.
However, a professional arborist, such as a Portland arborist, should make this judgement because an inexperienced individual is unlikely to notice the genetic distinctions between different types of cedar trees with pictures.
Related: Cedar Tree Growth Rate, Cedar Tree Lifespan
Conclusion
Congratulations! From majestic variety of cedar trees like cedar of Lebanon to deodar cedar to lilliputian cultivars, you can now recognise all four taxa, or primary varieties, of cedar trees, as well as their cultivars. Perhaps one will find a new home in your backyard, or even on your rooftop.
Why should you plant a cedar? The appropriate response is that they are eye-catching garden plants with gorgeous, textured leaves in blue, white, cream, or green tones.
Furthermore, given the correct conditions, they are strong plants that respond well to cutting, are diseases and pest-free, and have cultivars available in a range of sizes and shapes.
In this article, we’ve talked about all kinds of cedar trees and how you can differentiate between True and False Cedar Trees.
