Deodar cedar

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade but develops a denser, more balanced crown in good light.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Moderately drought-tolerant once established, but benefits from deep watering during prolonged drought.

Soil

Deep, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Tolerates several soil types, including clay where drainage is good; avoid waterlogged ground.

Height

40-70 ft (12-21 m), potentially taller with age

Spread

25-40 ft (7.6-12 m)

Foliage

Evergreen green to blue-green needles, borne singly on long shoots and in dense clusters on short shoots. Young branch tips and the leading shoot droop.

Growth

Moderate to fast when young, often 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m) per year in suitable conditions.

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   10 ft (2.9 m)

3. After 2 years

   13 ft (3.8 m)

4. After 3 years

   15 ft (4.7 m)

5. After 5 years

   21 ft (6.5 m)

About 16 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Growth rate

Fast

• Choose a permanent position with room for the mature crown, well away from buildings and overhead wires.
• Water deeply through the first two or three growing seasons whenever the root zone begins to dry.
• Spread organic mulch 2-3 in (5-8 cm) deep over the root zone, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed only if growth is poor and a soil test indicates a deficiency; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Stake only if the root ball moves in wind, and remove supports once the tree is securely rooted.

Pruning. Prune sparingly in late winter or early spring to remove dead, damaged or crossing branches. Preserve the naturally drooping leader, never top the tree, and avoid cutting into bare old wood because it rarely produces replacement growth.

Spring

Plant container-grown trees once the soil is workable, especially in colder regions.

Late winter

Inspect the crown for storm damage and arrange professional removal of large damaged branches.

Late spring

Refresh mulch and check that stakes or ties are not rubbing or constricting the trunk.

Summer

Check soil moisture around young trees and water deeply during dry spells.

Autumn

Plant in mild climates while the soil remains warm, and water thoroughly after planting.

Winter

Check young trees after strong winds; avoid knocking or shaking frozen, snow-covered branches.

• Use as a solitary specimen in a large lawn, leaving the lower branches intact to show its natural outline.
• Place toward the back of a spacious mixed planting as a permanent evergreen framework.
• Use on a large estate or parkland slope, where its tiered branches can be viewed from below.
• Pair with low, drought-tolerant planting beyond the crown edge to contrast fine needles with rounded shrubs and grasses.

Garden styles it suits: Architectural minimal, Grand estate, English manor, Woodland, Winter interest and Mediterranean.

Plant it with: Bergenia, Epimedium, Ivy-leaved cyclamen, Bigroot geranium and English lavender.

Wildlife: Dense branches provide shelter and potential nesting sites for birds. Seeds may be eaten by birds and small mammals; it does not provide nectar for pollinators.

• Root rot in wet ground: prevent it with good drainage and avoid frequent shallow irrigation; obtain an arborist's assessment if the crown declines or the tree becomes unstable.
• Aphids or scale insects causing honeydew and sooty mould: inspect affected shoots, encourage natural predators and use a labelled treatment only when infestation warrants it.
• Tip blight or shoot dieback: remove affected small shoots in dry weather, clean tools and seek a diagnosis if dieback spreads.
• Winter scorch or frost damage to young growth: choose a sheltered position near the colder end of its range and keep young trees adequately watered before the ground freezes.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Needles, cones and resin are not food; chewing them may cause mouth irritation or stomach upset.

• Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica)

  Usually has shorter, stiffer needles and more upright branch tips; deodar cedar has longer, softer-looking needles and a conspicuously drooping leader.

• Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)

  Typically develops a broad, flat-topped crown with age and has shorter needles and less pendulous young shoots.

• Himalayan pine (Pinus wallichiana)

  Has much longer needles grouped in bundles of five and long, hanging cones; deodar cedar has short-shoot needle clusters and upright, barrel-shaped cones.

Deodara comes from the Sanskrit devadāru, meaning 'wood of the gods', while Cedrus is the classical Latin name for cedar.

Propagation. Grow the species from seed, usually sown in spring after a period of cold, moist stratification. Named cultivars are generally grafted by specialist nurseries and do not come true from seed.

Accepted botanical name

Cedrus deodara

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet and West Himalaya.

Measured

Soil pH 6 to 7.5. Average height 2110 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.