Calocedrus decurrens
California Incensecedar

Previously known as: Libocedrus decurrens

Family:

Cupressaceae (Cypress Family) 98

Genus:

Calocedrus (Incensecedar) 2

Plant Type:

Tree 556

Growth Forms:

Columnar 42

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 5 233

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Evergreen 249

Foliage Notes:

Green (Lustrous, dark green flattened sprays of evergreen foliage)

Fruit Notes:

Brown (Small cones)

Ultimate Height:

30-50 feet

Ultimate Spread:

8-10 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Prefers moist, well-drained soils, but is quite adaptable to soil type, even tolerating poor soils

Range:

Western United States

Diagnostic Characteristics:

The small, glandular leaves are scale-like, arranged in whorls of 4, on branches of vertically-held, flattened sprays. The foliage is aromatic when crushed, smelling similar to incense. The small (0.75-1" long) cones are flattened and reminiscent of a duck's bill when they open to release seed. Mature bark is cinnamon-red, fibrous, furrowed, and scaly.

Special Characteristics:

Additional Information

The California Incensecedar is a large, handsome plant, excellent for formal plantings. In youth it is distinctly columnar and may develop a more conical habit at maturity. This plant is quite adaptable to different types of soils and is drought and heat tolerant once established. The California Incensecedar is known to be quite long-lived and large in the wild, even over 1000 years old and reaching more than 150' in height.