Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon

General Information Common Name  Cedar of Lebanon Scientific Name  Cedrus Libani Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height  up to 40   m (130 ft) Spread  15 -20 m (50 - 66 ft) Growth Rate  Fast Bloom Time  Spring Color  Green, Flower Color  Green Type  Tree Native  Africa, Asia, Europe.

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Coniferophyta – Conifers Class  Pinopsida Subclass  Order  Pinales Family  Pinaceae – Pine family Genus  Cedrus Carr. –  Cedar Species  C. Libani

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon

Cedrus libani commonly known as Cedar of Lebanon. It is native to Lebanon, Israel, northwest Jordan, western Syria, and south central Turkey. It is a large growing evergreen tree grows up to 40 m (130 ft) in height, with a trunk up to 2.5 m (8 ft) in diameter.

The Lebanon Cedar differs principally from the Atlas Cedar in having, later in life, a drooping or bent leader and horizontal branches forming table-like masses of needles; furthermore, it usually has grass-green needles, and the cones are rather lager and more barrel-shaped. It differs principally from the Deodar by its shorter needles, and in not having pendulous tips to the branches; furthermore it is less tall, less graceful, and not so erect, being usually a more spreading tree.

The trees are conical when young, later developing massive trunks and large, often spreading branches. The branchlets are of two kinds; the long terminal growth shoots with needles scattered around them (‘juvenile’ foliage), and short spur growths with needles in rosettes. The mature needles are about and an inch in length, and grass-green.

Both sexes of flowers are usually found on different branches of the same tree. The male catkins are long and erect, dull greyish-green with a purplish bloom, liberating bright yellow pollen in autumn. The females are small, greenish, erect conelets. The resultant erect resinous barrel-shaped green cones do not reach full size until after two years, when they turn brown and ripen within a few months. They then gradually break up, releasing their winged seeds, the central spike of the cone alone remaining.

Like as the Atlas Cedar, at first the bark is smooth and grey, but with age becomes brown, furrowed and scaly. The wood has a narrow whitish sapwood and a mid-brown heartwood, and is fairly hard, fragrant, naturally durable, and will work to a fine finish. It is scarce, hence little used commercially.

To be handsome ornamental, the tree needs light and space. Only then ca its wide-spreading crown on a stout trunk, with level branches and intricate tracery of fine twigs, be fully appreciated. Old specimens particularly are among the most picturesque evergreens, lending an aspect of dignity and beauty to parks and gardens.

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon

Young plant of Cedar of Lebanon

Cedar of Lebanon Leaves

Cedrus libani Leaves

Leaves of Cedrus libani 

Cedar of Lebanon Male Catkins

Cedar of Lebanon Male Cone

Male catkins of Cedrus libani 

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon Female Cones

Cedar of Lebanon Female Cones

Female Cone of Cedrus libani

Cedrus libani Female Cone

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon Catkins (Female)

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon Logs

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon Trunks

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon as Ornamental Plant

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon

Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon

Vedeo of Cedar of Lebanon: