Incense cedar seeds

Incense cedar or California incense cedar / Calocedrus decurrens - is a coniferous tree reaching a height of 50 meters or more and up to 12 meters in width. The needles are rich green, scaly, and their structure resembles the needles of thujas and cypress trees. The shape of the crown is first ovoid and later columnar. The cones are small and range in color from red-brown to brown. The plant is decorative all year round.

Frost resistance zone: 6a - the plant is most frost-resistant in the southern and western regions of Ukraine. In other places, it is necessary to select secluded places protected from the piercing winter winds.

Prefers bright sun, can grow in partial shade.

The needles are scaly, pointed, shiny, yellowish-green. The needles on the side shoots are 7 mm long, on the axial ones - 14 mm.

Trees are dioecious. The cones are located on the branches in opposite pairs, consist of 4 (less often 6) scales, ripen in the fall, several months after pollination.

For incense cedar you need to choose a place protected from the wind. In suitable climatic conditions, with sufficient temperature and humidity of air and soil, it does not require special care and can be used in urban landscaping. Young plants need shade from the scorching sun.

Heat-loving, can withstand short-term temperature drops down to minus 25° C.

Prefers deep, fresh, light, well-aerated and permeable soils. Tolerates excess lime in them. Does not tolerate soil drying out well. Watering - moisture-loving, but does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil.

Fertilizers - during the period of intensive growth, they are fed with fertilizers for conifers. No pruning required. Reproduction by seeds, cuttings with difficulty, decorative forms - by grafting.

Pests: root galls, bark beetles, pine silkworm.

Diseases: rust.

Use: Recommended for single, group and alley plantings in parks and large gardens. It is good to plant near water bodies. Tolerates smoke and gas pollution satisfactorily.