Different Types of Cedar Infographic

TYPES OF CEDAR Cedar wood falls in the genus of coniferous trees known as Cedrus. There are many different types of cedar tree which are commonly found in mountainous regions whose soil is moist and rich in limestone. Cedar trees thrive well in environments with abundant rainfall. They're conical in shape and can grow up to heights of between 30 to 40 feet with the girth spanning to a width of about 50 feet. FOUR TRUE TYPES OF CEDAR TREE DEODAR CEDAR ATLAS CEDAR CYPRIAN CEDAR CEDAR OF LEBANON THE ATLAS CEDAR (SCIENTIFIC NAME - CEDRUS ATLANTICA) It is mostly found in parts of North Africa. It's easily distinguishable from the other species of cedar trees in that it grows in the form or wide pyramids filled with needle shaped, evergreen leaves. The Blue-Atlas cedar (scientific name - Cedrus Atlantica 'Glaunca') known for its stunning silver-blue coloured leaves is probably the most popular planted species though it's not suitable for use along streets. These cedars are not cold-hardy; they thrive well in temperate climatic conditions. CEDAR OF LEBANON (SCIENTIFIC NAME – CEDRUS LIBANI) This is the most cold hardy of all the cedar trees. They have massive trunks, wide spreading branches & a dark-green foliage. It can be quite a daunting task telling the cedar- of-Lebanon from the Atlas cedar as morphological distinctions between the two species are minor and are not uniform all over. Just like the Atlas cedar, this kind of cedar tree is also not suitable for street-planting. DEODAR CEDAR (SCIENTIFIC NAME -CEDRUS DEODARA) It is also referred to as the Himalayan-cedar. The Deodar cedar is the fastest-growing species of the cedar tree; it takes the shape of a pyramid and has dense, soft-textured branches which take a tiered, pendulum like form. Its leaves are long (measuring 2.5 to 5 cm in length). You can easily tell it apart from the other species - its low branches are inclined towards the ground which results in the formation of a bowed structure. CYPRIAN CEDAR OR YELLOW CEDAR (SCIENTIFIC NAME – CEDRUS BREVIFOLIA) Yellow cedar is commonly found in the mountainous regions of Cyprus, Syria and Turkey. It's a rare species which can be differentiated from the Cedar-of-Lebanon by the shape of its crown and length of the leaves. The Cyprian Cedar has smaller leaves and its crown is umbrella-shaped compared to the pyramid-shaped of the Cedrus Brevifolia. Besides these 4 types of True Cedars, they're other coniferous-trees which are referred to as cedars but are actually not classified as such. As much as these coniferous trees bear close resemblance to True Cedars, they do not fall in the genus Cedrus. EASTERN RED-CEDAR JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA) Commonly found in the wilderness of the Eastern parts of the US. Their bright green leaves which are needle-like when young mature into scaly leaves. The colour turns into a pink hue during the months of winter. When the leaves are crushed, they impart a pleasant scent. Wood from the Eastern Red-Cedar used to make wind breakers or hedges. Varieties of this tree include the Blue Point Juniper, Canaerti, Burkii Juniper, Keteleeri, Hetzii Columnaris and the Princeton Sentry. ORIENTAL ARBORVITAE (SCIENTIFIC NAME – THUJA ORIENTALIS) This type of tree can be found springing in the form of small shrubs or small trees. It usually develops from a dense, compact foliage into an open-canopy. The Oriental Arborvitae has bright green, needle-shaped leaves. They're grown as hedges which are easy to manage. Common varieties include the Blue Cone, Elegantissima and Bakeri. NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR (SCIENTIFIC NAME – THUJA OCCIDENTALIS) Also referred to as White Cedar, the Eastern White-Cedar or the American Arborvitae. It has dark brown trunks and lustrous, fragrant leaves that cover it from the ground all the way to its sweeping branches. The American Arborvitae is ideal for landscaping. Common varieties include; Emerald, Affinity, Sunkist, Techny, Hills Dark Green, Sunkist, Fastigiata, Wareana Lutescens, Pyramidalis and Nigra. WESTERN RED CEDAR (SCIENTIFIC NAME – THUJA PLICATA) Western Red Cedar is also known by other names such as Canoe Cedar, the Great Western Arborvitae, Giant Red Cedar or Pacific Red Cedar. It's found in the wilderness of the north-western parts of Canada and the United States. Its leaves are scaly with a glossy-green color and produce a sweet smell. The Canoe Cedar is best used for screening and other landscaping purposes. It has a reddish-brown trunk with foliage which turns brownish-bronze during the winter season. Common varieties of this tree include the Green Giant, Fastigiata, Stoneham Gold, Zebrina, Emerald Cone and Atrovirens.