Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica – Atlas cedar

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Pinaceae

Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica – Atlas cedar

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This geographic subspecies of Cedrus libani is a large, quickly growing tree with horizontal branches at a later age. Naturally occurring on dry, calcareous mountain slopes in the Atlas mountains of north-western Africa. First the trunk is grey and smooth, but rougher in older trees. Later, the bark flakes off in small plates, revealing the reddish brown bark. The branches are fairly loose and open, twigs are first greyish green to greyish brown but turn grey in the second year. The needles, 2 - 2.5 cm long, grow in bundles of 20 - 40 together. Upright cones appear in autumn. Young cones are green but turn purplish brown to brown later. This cedar requires ample sun and is highly tolerant of air pollution.
Good news: the vast majority of our range is immediately available from container stock. A few varieties that are only available as field-grown trees will be delivered from November 2026 onwards. We will let you know in advance per order which trees will arrive when.
Availability
High (1)
Specifications
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Height
20 - 25 (40) m
Crown
broad pyramidal, half-open crown, capricious growing
Bark and branches
dark greyish black bark, scaly, twigs have downy hair
Leaf
needles, light green to silvery blue, 2 - 2.5 cm, evergreen
Flowers
unremarkable, fragrant flowers
Fruits
barrel-shaped cones, 5 - 7 cm long, turning from green to brown
Spines/thorns
None
Toxicity
usually not toxic to people, (large) pets and livestock
Soil type
all, provided well-permeable and not too moist
Soil moisture
suitable for dry soil
Paving
tolerates no paving
Winter hardiness zone
7a (-17,7 to -15,0 °C)
Wind resistance
good
Other resistances
can withstand wind
Application
parks, cemeteries, industrial areas, large gardens
Shape
clearstem tree, clearstem conifer, specimen conifer
Origin
Atlas mountains (north-eastern Algeria and northern Morocco)
Synonyms
Cedrus atlantica
Clear stem conifer Clear stem tree Specimen conifer clay soil loamy soil nutrient-poor soil peaty soil sandy soil tolerates no paving light-loving suitable for dry soil can withstand wind broad conical 1st size , taller than 12 metres half-open crown bluegreen green greygreen yellow average growing non-toxic (usually) Capricious growing Ornamental fruit Fragrant flowers
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Frequently asked questions
Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica

Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica can eventually reach a height of 20 - 25 (40) m, depending on the site and climate conditions.

Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica is average growing and can eventually reach a height of 20 - 25 (40) m, depending on the site and climate conditions.

The right time to plant Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica is during the dormancy period. In Western Europe, Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica with root balls can generally be planted from mid-November to late April, although this depends strongly on the climatic conditions and the species of tree.

Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica blooms in .
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