Scientific Name:
Calocedrus decurrens
Pronunciation:
kal-oh-SEE-druss DEK-ur-enz
Common Name:
California incense cedar
Family Name:
Cupressaceae
Plant Type:
Conifer
Key ID Features:
Twigs highly branched, flattened; leaves opposite in 4 rows, scale-like, 3-14mm long, shiny, aromatic when crushed; seed cone outer scales opening up like a narrow duck's bill, 14-25mm long, containing up to 4 seeds each with 2 wings of unequal length. Conifers.org
Habit:
Stiffly upright
Form:
Columnar
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
22 - 30m
Mature Spread:
7 - 10m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
U.S. - southwest
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 7: (-18 to -12 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Specimen plant, Tall background
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Scale-like
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Leathery
Surfaces:
Glabrous, Lustrous
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Spatulate
Apices:
Acute, Mucronate
Bases:
Decurrent
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
n/a (male cone)
Flower Morphology:
Monoecious plant
Colour (petals):
Male cone, No flowers, Yellow, Brown
Flower Time at Peak:
Oct, Nov
Fruit Type:
Cone (winged seeds)
Fruit Colour:
Red, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Oct, Nov
Bark Morphology:
Exfoliating, Plated, Deeply fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Dark Grey, Red, Dark brown
Propagation:
Seed
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Rust (Drought tolerant)
Course(s):
- HORT 1155
Location(s):
- (JPL) Juglans PLanting : 158
- (NRY) NuRserY
- (SGL) Sendell Gardens, Langley
- (WDH) Wark-Dumais House