Family: Pinaceae
Common names: Atlas cedar, Blue atlas cedar
Just outside the Holy Trinity church in Tbilisi, Georgia stood these beautiful and majestic cedar trees, Cedrus atlantica and Cedrus deodara. I couldn’t stop taking their photos, much to the chagrin of my patiently waiting family. Glad to show you some of these beautiful tree specimens.
Tree Characteristics
Cedrus atlantica, or Atlas Cedar, is a tall, evergreen tree native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria. In gardens, it usually grows 20–30 meters tall, but in its natural habitat it can reach 30–40 meters.
Young trees are cone-shaped and neat, but as they grow older, the branches spread out horizontally in layers, giving the tree a wide, majestic look. The trunk becomes thick and strong over time.
The bark is gray when young and becomes dark gray-brown and deeply cracked as the tree ages. The wood inside is aromatic and resinous, with the typical cedar fragrance.
The roots grow deep into the soil and spread wide, helping the tree stand firm in strong winds. However, the tree does not like waterlogged soil and can suffer if the ground stays too wet.
Leaves are needle-like and evergreen, about 2–3 cm long, and grow in dense clusters of 20–40 needles. The color can be green or bluish-green, depending on the variety.
Atlas Cedar produces cones instead of regular flowers. The male cones are small, about 3–5 cm long, while the female cones are larger, around 6–9 cm long. The cones stand upright on the branches and take about 2–3 years to mature before breaking apart and releasing seeds.
These trees are closely related to Cedrus deodara or Deodar cedar, a very popular tree in India.
Gardening Tips
Atlas Cedar needs full sunlight for most of the day to grow well and maintain its shape. It is best planted in large gardens, parks, or open spaces where it has enough room to spread its wide canopy.
Since it grows quite large, it should not be planted too close to buildings or compound walls. It’s not for small home gardens, but are appropriate trees for large parks or botanical gardens.
The tree prefers well-drained soil and does not tolerate waterlogging. Water regularly when the tree is young and establishing itself.
Once established, it becomes quite drought-tolerant and needs watering only during very dry periods. A layer of mulch around the base can help retain moisture, but keep it away from the trunk.
Pruning is usually not necessary, except to remove dead or damaged branches. The natural layered shape of the tree is its biggest attraction, so heavy pruning should be avoided.
Atlas Cedar is generally hardy and does not suffer from serious pest or disease problems when grown in the right conditions.
Uses of Atlas Cedar
Atlas Cedar is mainly grown as an ornamental tree because of its grand size, evergreen foliage, and beautiful layered branching. It makes an excellent shade tree in parks and large landscapes and often becomes a landmark tree as it matures.
The wood of the Atlas Cedar is fragrant and durable. Cedar wood has traditionally been used for furniture, storage chests, and woodwork because its natural aroma helps repel insects. The pleasant Cedar scent is also valued in perfumery and aromatherapy.
In traditional practices, cedar oils are sometimes used externally for their calming fragrance and insect-repelling properties. However, essential oils should always be used carefully and only under proper guidance.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds and grafting.
Atlas Cedar is mainly propagated through seeds collected from mature cones. The seeds are sown in well-drained soil and kept moist until they germinate, which may take a few weeks.
Ornamental varieties, especially blue forms, are usually propagated by grafting to maintain their exact color and growth habit.
Photographed at: Holy Trinity Church, Tbilisi
