January Tree of the Month-Blue Atlas Cedar
Blue Atlas cedar, Cedrus atlantica, is another pretty boy evergreen that breaks my heart, probably more than Cryptomeria. December Tree of the Month-Japanese Cedar I’ve tried a couple of dwarf cultivars (Cedrus atlantica Glauca Group) over the years that all resulted in a brown, crispy carcass after a long, slow death. In St. Louis, the most commonly found Atlas cedars are the dwarf, weeping cultivars that either look like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree with its one ornament weighing it down removed (I had a client that attached a large, red ornament to hers one year during the holidays!) or they resemble Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street with their long, weeping spread that’s almost 2-dimensional. (The one at Missouri Botanical Garden near the maze!) Sometimes, they are in a graceful “S” or serpentine shape. Occasionally, I find an upright form with the typical unrestricted habit and unusual spread.
All those quirky dwarf cultivars caught my eye early in my horticulture career, but it wasn’t until a trip to Nevada that I fell in love with Cedrus. Out West, the blue Atlas cedars look like “real” trees with large, rounded canopies 30+ feet or more high and wide, providing ample shade from the blistering sun. The specimens I came across in Reno’s Idlewild Park weren’t quite as blue as the dwarf, weeping cultivars in the Glauca Group I’d only seen before, but that wonderful texture and fun cones stood out even more so within a full, glorious canopy. These trees are native to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa, making it even more fascinating that they grow here. The Pacific Northwest is another area where they seem to thrive, and the Oregon Botanical Garden has some great specimens.
Blue Atlas cedar foliage of the Glauca Group, formally C. atlantica ‘Glauca’, is a unique silvery-blue color that stands out in the usual expanse of green in most landscapes, even without the curious shape and structure that turns the heads of plant-geeks and non-plant-geeks alike. They are conversation starters as focal points in landscape beds or as a container tree on a patio. However, being zone 6 plants, St. Louis is on the edge of hardiness for this zone 6-9 range plant. A tough winter can cause complete needle loss (In which the needles will grow back in spring.) or complete death. (In which the needles will NOT grow back!)
That said, even though full sun is preferred, a protected location from harsh winds is beneficial, and I see very happy specimens here in partial shade. Well-drained, acidic loam soils are also preferred, which is why I see a lot of success in containers versus the heavy clay soils typical of most Midwest gardens.
What I like about this plant;
-Unique silvery-blue evergreen foliage.
-Fun, interesting cones.
-Great specimen or focal point plant.
-Whimsical shapes to pick from with the dwarf weeping cultivars.
-Super low-maintenance.
-Drought-tolerance once established.
-No serious pest or disease issues.
What’s not so great;
-A bit picky about soil conditions.
-Not always winter hardy in St. Louis, sheltered positions are a must.
Comments or questions? Email Garden-Lou at gardenloustl@gmail.com
Words and photos by Jo Batzer
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