Calocedrus decurrens
California incense cedar
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Hardiness: USDA
Zone
5-8.
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Water use: Moderate or low.
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Light: Full sun or light shade.
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Size: 30 to 50 feet tall, and 8 to 10 feet wide. In its
native habitat,
it can reach over 100 feet tall.
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Native Range: This tree is native in the western United
States,
including Oregon, California, and Nevada.
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Plant habit and use: Dense, narrow, columnar evergreen, that
some
people think looks like an arborvitae. These are used individually as
vertical
accents in the landscape. Planted in a row, they make a good screen or
backdrop.
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Leaf and twig color: Dark green, small scale-like leaves are
arranged
along twigs with reddish, peeling bark. Older twigs and branches lose
the
red color.
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Cones: The cones are less than 1 inch long. Their
reddish-brown
color makes a subtle contrast to the green leaves.
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Culture: This tree is tolerant of a wide range of conditions.
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Maintenance: These naturally columnar trees do not need
regular
pruning.
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Other: Although it is not thought to be native in
Washington state,
it has been widely planted in the state and good specimens can be found
in both western and eastern Washington.
Return to:
Water-conserving plant list
Trees
Page creators:
Virginia I. Lohr
and Caroline H. Pearson-Mims
Dept. of Hort &
LA, Washington St. Univ.
E-mail: pearson@wsu.edu
Page updated February 17, 2008