Blue Atlas Cedar
Cedrus libani var. atlantica · Evergreen, Coniferous, Softwood
Plant Family
Pinaceae
Tree Category
Ornamental, Conifer, Shade Tree
Variety / Cultivar
'Glauca' Group (known for the silvery-blue needle color)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 6 through 9
About This Tree
A majestic, large-scale conifer with a wide-spreading habit and stiff, horizontal branching. Younger trees are often pyramidal, while mature specimens like the one pictured develop a flat-topped, irregularly branching, open crown. It is highly valued for its striking silvery-blue foliage and architectural form.
Leaf Characteristics
Needle-like leaves, roughly 1 inch long. They are arranged in spiral clusters (rosettes) on short spurs or singly on long shoots. Color is a distinctive glaucous blue-green to silvery gray.
Bark Characteristics
Smooth and silver-gray on young trees, becoming deeply fissured, ridged, and plated with age, turning a darker grayish-brown color.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria (North Africa)
Growing Season
Year-round evergreen growth; produces pollen cones in autumn; enters semi-dormancy in winter; new needle flushes in spring.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for best color and growth. Needs moist, well-draining soil but is once-established highly drought-tolerant and heat-tolerant.
Mature Size
Reaches 40-60 feet in height with a spread of 30-40 feet under cultivation; can reach 100 feet in its native habitat. Grows at a moderate rate (1-2 feet per year).
Special Characteristics
Noted for its extreme wind resistance, excellent drought tolerance once mature, and resistance to most pests. Produces upright, barrel-shaped cones that take two years to mature and disintegrate on the branch.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides critical nesting sites and year-round cover for various bird species. Lower branches provide shelter for mammals. Pollen is a source for various insects, and the large seeds from cones are used by squirrels and some birds.