Atlas cedar seeds

Atlas cedar / Cedrus atlantica - is one of the species of the cedar genus (Manetti 'Salute Glauca'), found naturally in North Africa on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Algeria, including in places very poor in vegetation. In the wild it usually grows in remote areas at an altitude of 1,300 - 2,000 meters above sea level.

Monoecious tree up to 50 meters tall, with a loose, pyramidal crown. The needles are 3-4 sided, prickly, hard, bluish-green in color. On shortened shoots it is collected in bunches of 30-40 needles, on tall ones - single up to 2.5 cm long. The cones are dense, shiny, light brown, up to 10 cm long, barrel-shaped, cylindrical-ovoid in shape, ripen in the third year. No pre-planting treatment is required. The wood is resinous with a strong aroma. The smell is reminiscent of sandalwood, but drier.

It differs from Lebanese cedar in its crown structure, shorter needles and smaller cones. It grows faster when young, starts growing late in the spring and is more drought-resistant. Quite frost-resistant, can withstand short-term temperature drops down to -20°C, and is very photophilous. Very resistant to pests and diseases. Dust-resistant, smoke-resistant, gas-resistant. Does not tolerate the presence of lime in the soil. Suffers from excess moisture.

Atlas cedar is widely grown by gardeners in southern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, all the way to China; this type of cedar is often grown as a bonsai.

Atlas cedar oil has antiseptic properties and promotes the breakdown of fat, therefore it is used in the manufacture of cosmetic products.