Tree of the Month: Deodar Cedar
The alluring deodar cedar has a distinct form, with asymmetrical tiers of branches whose cascading foliage becomes fuller and more graceful as the tree matures. This weeping evergreen species adds a hardy and playful profile to the Nashville landscape, while its versatile nature allows the deodar cedar to fit into almost any neighborhood yard.
Cedrus Deodara
Native to the Himalayas in central Asia (also home to Mount Everest), the deodar cedar tree is not an American native, but it has a low risk of invasiveness, and when maintained well, its adaptations contribute many benefits to an urban canopy ecosystem.
The scientific name, Cedrus deodara, comes from the Latin word for cedar and the Sanskrit (a major ancient Indian language) word for “wood of the gods.” Cedar trees have been revered since antiquity in the temperate climates of the Himalayas and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The deodar cedar is a “true cedar,” which are native to Western Asia, in contrast to some evergreens that we call cedars that are actually native to other areas (such as the American eastern red cedar, which is a juniper tree). Due to its robust versatility, the deodar cedar grows very well in Nashville’s seasons and soils.
Identifying a Deodar Cedar
Deodar cedars can be identified among the other conifer trees in the canopy by a few of its most distinguishing features. To begin with, the loose and asymmetrical arrangement of its evergreen branches in a pyramidal form is a quick, at-a-distance identifier. Unlike spruces, pines, and many other evergreens whose branches firmly reach up and out, the branches of a deodar droop downwards.
Like many other conifers, the leaves of deodar cedars are in needle form: dense, tightly packed foliage whose hard outer layer keeps moisture in the needle in dry conditions. This fluid is carbohydrate-rich, which provides antifreeze properties that allow the tree to keep its leaves and photosynthesize year-round.
Another peculiarity of this species is how its needles and cones grow on the tree’s branches. The soft needles of a deodar cedar grow in bunches off of small, stubby shoots on the branches. This stub clustering is unique to the deodar cedar, whereas other evergreen needles grow right out of the trees’ branches. Similarly unique to the deodar is the fact that its cones grow upwards, sitting upon the branch, while most other cones hang, and drop, from the underside. Deodar cones, however, don’t drop like others; they slowly break apart to distribute pollen over the fall season.
While not always visible, the gray outer bark of the deodar cedar grows in a somewhat scaly pattern, the flakiness of which reveals a reddish interior bark distinctive of cedar wood. Like many other conifers, the deodar cedar produces a dense resin in its wood that helps heal wounds, defends against boring wildlife, and provides some antifreeze properties to the trunk and branches of the tree for the coldest months of the year.
How Fast Do Deodar Cedar Trees Grow?
The deodar cedar grows at a rate of one to two feet per year—not very fast, but not slow either. A specimen can grow up to 70 feet tall and 40 feet wide at maturity, contributing significantly to a canopy’s ecosystem.
How Long Do Deodar Cedar Trees Live?
The lifespan of a deodar cedar usually exceeds 50 years, while well-maintained trees can live for a hundred years or longer. In their native Himalayan region, wild deodar cedar trees can live for several centuries!
Deodar Cedars in Nashville’s Ecosystem
These hardy trees are very adaptable, making them a great option for urbanized areas. They do need space to spread since these trees can get big, and they grow best in slightly acidic to neutral soil, but otherwise, these trees tolerate warm and cold, moist and dry, as well as a range of soil types, from sand or loam to clay.
This species contributes the range of ecosystem services that big canopy trees do (including air filtration, shade, and soil stabilization) while offering a beautiful ornamental evergreen tree whose characteristic form adds visual interest in each season and in each stage of its growth.
Embrace the Deodar Cedar for Your Property
Check out the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps’ listing for the deodar cedar on our tree sale page, where you can purchase locally sourced trees for your yard. If you don’t have the opportunity to plant a tree of your own, consider volunteering with us, donating a tree for us to plant, or making a financial contribution to support NTCC’s work. Our volunteer organization of planters, planners, and advocates is funded in large part by donations from Nashvillians, and we appreciate every generous bit of support given! To stay informed on our activities across the city, subscribe to our email newsletter or check out our social accounts and online resources through NTCC’s Linktree.