Cedar, Deodar

After 30 to 40 years the Deodar Cedar can reach heights of 40-70 feet. The tree starts off in a pyramidal shape but becomes wide spreading and flat-topped as it matures. Native to the western Himalaya, the Deodar Cedar is widely planted in the southeastern United States. A sunny to partly shaded area in a somewhat dry area presents the best environment for the tree to grow.

The needle-like LEAVES are typically 1-1 1/2 inches long. There are 15-20 light blue or grayish green, sharply pointed leaves per whorl. Sometimes the leaves look silvery.

In the spring, inconspicuous and non-showy FLOWERS bloom.

The FRUIT are cones that come either solitary or two together on a female tree. They are ovoid shaped and are generally 3 to 4 inches long. Bluish when young, the cones turn a reddish brown when grown. The cones fall apart scale by scale instead of intact.

Many describe this tree as graceful due to the drooping BRANCHES at the tips. The TRUNK tends to stay straight and the branches horizontal. While letting the lower branches grow shows the true form of the tree, they must be pruned if pedestrians are to walk under the canopy.

While this tree is used as more of an ornamental tree here in the states, it is harvested in the Himalayas, its native region. In India the tree bark is used for medicinal purposes in curing fever, urinary disorders, and snakes bites and the oil from the tree in curing skin diseases and ulcers.