   Cedars of Lebanon and Beyond - October 10, 2007 Jeff Schalau, Associate Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County The Cedars of Lebanon have been cited in religious writings and ancient mythology. This tree and its close relatives were also the basis of ancient and modern civilizations. As a consequence, the extent of the cedars in Lebanon, and other mountainous regions of Eurasia and north Africa has dramatically declined. Five species of true cedars (Cedrus) are native to the old world with one species occurring in north Africa, three species occurring in the mountains between the Mideast and the Himalayas, and another occurring on the island of Crete. Native stands of these trees exist, but many have been harvested for human uses over the last 7,000 or so years. The pressure for fuel and structural wood continues across much of the native range of Cedrus. Two species of true cedars are widely used in western landscapes: the Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) and Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica). The true Lebanese cedar (Cedrus libani) can sometimes be seen in parks and arboreta, but is less common in today’s nursery trade. All of these trees are well-suited to western landscapes because they tolerate heat and cold, grow well in alkaline soils, are moderately drought-tolerant, and have relatively few pests. They are, however, relatively large trees and should not be planted on small residential lots. In the United States, we have our own “cedars.” The eastern red cedar with the aromatic wood that is used for textile storage chests is actually a juniper (Juniperus virginiana). Similarly, many Arizonan’s call our native junipers “cedars”. Junipers and true cedars (Cedrus) are actually quite different in appearance. Junipers have small scale-like leaves, berry-like fruits, and are relatively small in stature compared to true cedars which have needles arranged in rosettes, upright cones, and are generally large in stature. The Deodar cedar is probably the most widely planted true cedar in the west. It is easily recognized from a distance due to its slightly weeping top leader. In its early years, it maintains the classic pyramidal shape, but after 30 to 40 years, it usually has a broader canopy and a flatter top. It has silvery, blue green needles that are about 1 to 2 inches long. It is generally cold hardy to about -10 degrees F, but can survive the heat of Tucson. All true cedars require good soil drainage. The mature height is about 70 feet and it often has a spread of 30-40 feet. There are several cultivars that have been selected for various features. A weeping variety (C. d. var. Pendula) is popular as a “focal point” plant and stays about 10 feet high. The Altas cedar is native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. While it seems to grow somewhat slower that the Deodar, it is still a relatively large tree (40-60 feet high and 30-40 feet wide) when mature. Like the Deodar, it also can become broader and less pyramidal with age. It also has shorter silvery, blue green needles that are about ¾ to 1½ inches long and is generally cold hardy to about -10 degrees F. Again, several cultivars are in production with slight variation in growth form and foliage color. The Lebanese cedar is less popular than either the Deodar or Atlas. I am not exactly sure why, but it may be due to similarity with the other species. Nevertheless, it is often found in arboretum collections. Interestingly, a wood wasp is threatening remnant stands of Lebanese cedar across its native range and scientists are working to protect remaining stands from this insect. While true cedars are graceful and attractive in youth for planting as a residential tree, resist the temptation to plant them unless you truly have the space and can apply intermittent irrigation. It is also a coniferous evergreen and more flammable than many non-coniferous plants. Therefore, it is not a good choice to plant near a house or other flammable structures. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on gardening and pest control. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 ext. 14 or E-mail us at cottonwoodmg@yahoo.com and be sure to include your address and phone number. Find past Backyard Gardener columns or submit column ideas at the Backyard Gardener web site: http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/. |