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Calocedrus decurrens (Incense Cedar)
Plant Brief: A handsome evergreen, with a distinctive columnar form
to heights of 90.’ Growing at mid to high elevations throughout the Oregon
Cascades and south into Baja, California (hardy USDA 5-8), this species can
tolerate extremes of moisture and temperature, but prefers areas with summer
drought.
The lustrous foliage of this tree is densely massed and
vivid green, flowing right to the ground. The bark is scaled and reddish brown and the cones are
small, with six scales.
This fast-growing cedar is a wise choice for hedges and
screens, especially used along driveways and borders, as it can be sheared to
desirable shapes. Such a hedge will protect your privacy, reduce your heating
bills and minimize noise, while attracting wildlife and filling the air with its
distinct perfume. |
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The following article was written by Jennifer Bosvert |
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Description: Widely used in parks and landscaping, the
Incense Cedar is probably the most well-known of the Pacific Northwest
native false cedars. Growing in a pyramidal to narrowly conical form, it is very
popular in formal plantings and often seen lining roads or walkways.
Unlike the other native false cedars, the Incense Cedar prefers
drier, even drought prone areas. In
drier areas, the thick green foliage creates a lush backdrop that may be
harder to achieve with other trees.
Widely used in parks and landscaping, the
Incense Cedar is probably the most well-known of the Pacific Northwest
native false cedars.
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Growing in a pyramidal to narrowly conical
form, it is very popular in formal plantings and often seen lining roads or
walkways. Unlike the other native false cedars, the Incense Cedar prefers
drier, even drought prone areas. In
drier areas, the thick green foliage creates a lush backdrop that may be
harder to achieve with other trees.
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Similar in stature to the Western Red Cedar, the
Incense Cedar grows to 100’-150’, and 500 years
old. The trunk creates the
familiar wide base of weathered gray bark, tapering up to a narrowly
conical crown. The reddish
bark (that weathers gray) grows thick and fibrous, and may be irregularly
furrowed up to four inches deep. The lower limbs drape gracefully towards the ground, clothed
in thick green foliage. The
scale-like leaves are a dark blue-green with no white markings underneath,
and are easy to differentiate from other false cedars by the longer scales
that resemble the shape of a long-stemmed wine glass. The lush foliage has a pungent, spicy odor when
crushed. Male flowers are small and golden-yellow in color, while the
cones resemble one-inch long green urns that open into a brown “open
duck’s bill.”
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Habitat and Range: One of the principal trees of the California forest, the natural
habitat of Calocedrus decurrens begins in the north on the dry southeast
slope of Mt. Hood, south through the Cascades of Oregon into California,
where it stretches west to the ocean, east to Nevada and south to Baja.
Although Incense Cedar prefers drier areas for its native habitat, this
extremely adaptable tree also grows well in damper places. |
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Ornamental Values: The lush foliage of this drought resistant and adaptable tree speaks
for its ornamental value.
Trees
grown in open areas will form perfect narrow pyramids and are widely seen
in domestic landscaping. Grown
in a group, the dense foliage makes an excellent windbreak.
Incense Cedar is well adapted to extreme temperatures, grows well
in shade or sun, tolerates poor soil, prefers slightly acidic soil, and
while it will grow well in clay, this tree prefers sandy loam.
Hardy in Sunset zones 1-12 and 14-24, there are not many places
where this tree cannot be grown. One
thing to keep in mind: although drought tolerant, young Incense Cedars
should be watered throughout the first four to five dry seasons. |
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Native Plant Gardening/Wildlife Habitat:
Like most conifers, the primary wildlife value of the Incense Cedar is as winter
shelter, cover from predators, and as a nesting site in the spring. |
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Young stands of Incense Cedar that make a thick grove
are sometimes used as cover by deer and other larger mammals. In older trees,
the deeply furrowed bark makes good habitat for crevice dwellers like bats and
brown creepers.
Restoration and Mitigation Values:
With adaptability to extreme conditions and temperatures, incense
cedar is a natural for restoration in more difficult, dry areas, as well as
damper more hospitable locations.
Calocedrus decurrens has been planted with success to control erosion in
mountainous areas, and in Los Angeles County it has been successfully used on
road fills, and along streams from 2,000’-6,000.’
Historical and Cultural Uses:
As with the other native false-cedars of the west coast, all parts
of Calocedrus decurrens were used for some purpose by indigenous peoples.
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Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) foliage and cones. Photo by Walter
Siegmund. It was taken in Grants Pass, Oregon on October 22, 2005 |
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The Cahuilla of southern California used the bark to make temporary shelters,
and the wood to construct permanent dwellings. Boughs were often used as
brooms, lending an aromatic bonus when sweeping. Many tribes used various parts of the tree, roots and bark for
example, in basketry and other weaving. The Washo people from near Lake Tahoe used small limbs of the
Incense Cedar for bows. In
more modern times, when the supply of eastern red cedar ran short, Incense
Cedar made up almost the entire supply of pencil wood in the United
States.
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Edible and Medicinal
Uses:
The Klamath Native Americans
of southern Oregon used branches and
twigs
in an herbal steam for sweat baths. Some
tribes took a decoction of Incense Cedar leaves for
stomach illness, and an infusion of leaves steam
was
inhaled for cold remedy by the Paiute. Dense leaflets were
also used by
some tribes in California to spice or flavor acorn meal.
NOTE: Please use caution when preparing or eating any
parts of a plant. Identification of the species and knowledge of a plant’s
toxicity are both essential before using any plant species medicinally or
otherwise. Please consult with a health professional before attempting to treat
any ailment.
Propagation Techniques: Cuttings and seeds both work well for propagation of Calocedrus
decurrens.
Seeds – Collect the cones from trees after they have turned from
green to brown, but before they open. Then dry on a plastic sheet for several days until the cones dry
and open. Shake the seeds
loose from the cones, and separate the seeds from the chaff with a light
fanning. Do not de-wing the seeds. Cold stratification is
recommended as it generally doubles germination. In the spring sow at a depth of 0.5 cm in moist
soil. Shade partially for the first year, and keep soil moist.
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Mature Incense Cedar |
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Cuttings – Incense Cedar can be propagated by cuttings in a
greenhouse or cold frame. Take
cuttings of same year’s growth in mid-autumn and root in a cold frame.
Common Diseases:
The most common disease in Incense Cedar is a dry pocket rot that
generally only affects the quality of the wood harvested from the tree,
and is of negligible importance to gardeners. Most fungi only affect very old trees, although occasionally a root
fungus, Heterobasidion annosum, will cause enough damage to result in blow
down. Beetles occasionally feed on the cambium, but rarely become
numerous enough to seriously damage a tree, and parasitic mistletoe will
grow on Incense Cedar, but is also of negligible concern.
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