The cedar tree is known for its rich symbolism and cultural significance.
There are onlyfour species of true cedars.
This means that these are the only species that belong to the genus Cedrus.
The rest are false cedars and actually belong to the cypress family.
What does cedar smell like?
This is not surprising since pencils are made mostly from cedars.
Scientifically, this is because of a compound called thujaplicin.
Its color ranges are from rich to deep green but a few ones have blue and silver tinges.
The color of the leaves depends on the thickness of the wax or coating it has.
This natural wax retains moisture on the leaves making cedars adaptive and tolerant to dry soils and climates.
The leaves of cedars give the tree its pyramid-like appearance.
The truth is, cedars do have needles like its pine and spruce cousins.
Cedar needles are actually used as mulch specifically in soils that need acidity.
As for botanical classification, true cedars are Cedrus and faux cedars come from either junipers or cypresses.
True cedar trees vs faux cedar trees
True cedars only have four species.
They belong to the family Cedrus and they are mostly found in the Mediterranean or the Himalayas.
They have short branches and tiny and fine needle-like foliage.
They are also notable for their woody spurs and large cones on top of the tree.
They are not usually raised as ornamentals as they are found more valuable in woodworks and construction.
They are found in the mountain ranges of the Mediterranean and the Himalayas.
They are distinguished from the faux cedars for their height, woodwork and construction value, and general appearance.
It is also called the Yellow Cedar and is unique for its umbrella-like appearance.
It is a beautiful specimen tree for winter landscaping.
It gets its name for being a native of the Moroccan Atlas Mountains.
It enjoys full to partial shade but can also tolerate long droughts.
It is a popular specimen tree because of its attractive silver-blue-green foliage.
It is also used for furniture-making and in the production of aromatic oils.
It has a pyramid-like appearance and elongated, deep green needles.
It is also one of the most biblically referenced cedar as proven by archaeological finds.
It remains an important wood in Lebanon mainly for its timber and naturally fragrant oils.
Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara)
Its name in Sanskrit equates to the timber of the gods.
It is considered as a conifer with a weeping habit since its needles droop down.
It grows tall reaching a height of 80ft and a 40ft base.
It has finer needles than most cedars and it is striking for its blue-green color.
It is an important timber and woodwork source and is also farmed as aChristmas tree.
It is the national tree of Pakistan.
Faux (False) Cedar Trees
As the term implies, faux cedars are not true cedars.
However, they get the cedar name because of their woody and aromatic resemblance to cedars.
Like true cedars, faux ones are also evergreen conifers.
Faux cedars are also commonly cypresses and junipers.
It is also a popular choice in woodworks because of its natural oils.
It has a striking pink-brown wood.
It is also loved because it is pest and disease-resistant and is not prone to decay.
It is considered as the highest growing cypress reaching up to 200ft.
It could also live up to 1000years.
It has deep-green, dense foliage that smells like pineapples.
Alaskan Yellow Cedar (Cupressus nootkatensis)
It is native to the Pacific Northwest including Alaska and British Columbia.
Unlike most cedars, it has a dense and sturdy wood with a unique yellow color.
It is also a known slow-grower as exhibited by its tight-knit wood rings.
It is also called the Aromatic Cedar because of its strong woody fragrance.
It is also used in extracting lining oils.
Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
It is also fondly called Arbor Vitae or tree of life.
Its wood is observably lighter than the red cedar making it easier to work within making furniture.
It is also used in construction such as in building fences, posts, and decks.
It is hardy and disease-resistant and is attractive for its creamy-brown bark, deep-green foliage, and pyramid-like appearance.
It is named as such because of its strong woody smell, especially during the warmer climates.
It is tough, adaptive and could grow very tall at 75ft and with a base of 15ft.
It is usually found in open parks unique for its maroon wood and rich green, long needles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is red cedar better than white cedar?
A lot of people get confused with the red and white cedar because of some striking similarities.
When it comes to which is better, the answer is depending on where to use them.
For instance, red cedar is considered as one of the finest woods in the world.
It is particularly used in roofing, decking, and fencing.
But aside from this, it is also used in manufacturing guitar soundboards because of its lightweight property.
It provides a warm, deep tone to guitars making it a go-to wood for its production.
They are also cultivated as ornamental trees for hedges.
They are also cultivated for natural oils used to deter moths and beetles.
On the other hand, white cedar is more lightweight and fine-grained than red cedar.
As such, it is commonly used in roofing and sidewalls.
Is cedar an evergreen?
All cedars are evergreen conifers like their spruce, fir, and pine cousins.
They have stiff branches and could grow very tall and could live very long.
These two, however, have stark differences and it is quite important to take notice of these.
Cedar tree vs juniper tree
At youth, cedars have more resemblance to junipers than faux cedars.
As they reach maturity, the first defining characteristic would be their height.
Junipers are far shorter compared to cedars.
As a matter of fact, they are cultivated more as shrubs than trees.
They have scaly, pointed needles like that of faux cedars.
Aside from height, the only true differentiating characteristic of cedar from junipers is their aromatic scent.
To protect it from losing moisture, you will have to apply up to 5inches of organic mulch.
During winter or when the climate drops, you will also have to cover it with landscape fabric.
Unless the soil seems unhealthy, fertilizer is not necessary.
As it reaches maturity, care requirements will be limited to regular mulching and removal of dead branches.
When it reaches at least 6-8ft, it could start growing on its own until it reaches full maturity.
Cedar tree diseases
Even the decay-free cedar tree has some vulnerabilities.
If it happens before maturity, soil amendments and watering schedules must be done.
But as have been previously mentioned, as it reaches maturity, cedars will be less susceptible to diseases.
Conclusion
To conclude, there are many reasons as to why cedar trees are considered valuable.
We have pretty much covered the difference of cedar to othertree typeslike junipers and pines.
