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The Global Insight

How many types of cedar trees are there

Author

William Harris

Updated on April 07, 2026

Many people are surprised to learn that there are only 4 types of true cedars: Cedrus atlantica, Cedrus brevifolia, Cedrus deodara, and Cedrus libani.

How many species of cedar are there?

In total, there are only four recognized species of cedar – the Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica), the Cyprus cedar (C. brevifolia), the deodar cedar (C. deodara), and the Lebanon cedar (C.

Are there different types of cedar wood?

There are only 4 true types of the cedar tree Vis a Vis; the Deodar Cedar, the Atlas cedar, Cyprian cedar and Cedar of Lebanon. They all produce high quality and durable wood.

What is the most common cedar tree?

  • Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) …
  • Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) …
  • Spanish Cedar (Cedrela oderata L.) …
  • Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) …
  • Alaskan Yellow Cedar (Palicourea croceoides)

What is the difference between a cedar tree and a juniper tree?

Eastern Red Cedar is very closely related to the Common Juniper, in fact they are in the same genus. The key obvious difference is that Juniper seldom grows as a tree, whereas Red Cedar nearly always does.

What type of tree is a cedar tree?

Cedrus, common English name cedar, is a genus of coniferous trees in the plant family Pinaceae (subfamily Abietoideae). They are native to the mountains of the western Himalayas and the Mediterranean region, occurring at altitudes of 1,500–3,200 m in the Himalayas and 1,000–2,200 m in the Mediterranean.

What is a real cedar tree?

Cedar (Cedrus), also called “true” cedar, is a coniferous genus and species of trees in the plant family Pinaceae. They are most closely related to the Firs (Abies), sharing a very similar cone structure. Most true, old-world cedars seen in North America are ornamentals.

Where do cedar trees grow best?

The cedar tree commonly grows in areas of moist soil. It is often found in swamps and other areas of water accumulation. The trees also exist on rocky slopes or amidst mixed conifers. Cedars prefer to be planted in acid-based soils but will grow in clay.

Are there male and female cedar trees?

Cedar tree flowers vary from species to species. Cedars are also either male or female, and the sexes can have different flowers.

Do cedar trees attract mosquitoes?

Fact is that cedars (Thuya species) attract mosquitos no more or less than any other evergreen. … Cedars have gained a reputation for attracting mosquitos because native cedars thrive in low lying areas where soil is nearly swampy.

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What is the difference between Red Cedar and white cedar?

The main differences between white cedar and red cedar are in terms of durability and strength. Red cedar is slightly stronger than white cedar fence. … White cedar fencing lasts longer than red cedar fencing. In most cases, white cedar fences can last for a good 10 years or more.

Which cedar is most rot resistant?

Resistance to decay: Western red cedar is the most decay-resistant cedar, making it great for outdoor construction projects like shakes and shingles. It is also one of the longest-living North American softwood trees. Stability: Western red cedar has twice the stability of other softwood species.

Why is Red Cedar so expensive?

Western Red Cedar wood is considered the most valuable of all softwoods because of its fine, straight grain, color, flexibility and strength in proportion to weight, however, the most important property of cedar wood is its high impermeability to liquids and its natural phenol preservatives, which make it ideally …

Is cedar poisonous to humans?

There are actually two type of trees commonly called Redcedars. The Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata) and Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), also known as aromatic Cedar. Caution- Eastern Red Cedar is actually quite toxic if ingested.

Is Cypress and cedar the same thing?

A true cedar tree is in the genus Cedrus, while a true cypress tree is in the genus Cupressus. There are many plants commonly called cedar and many plants called cypress, but not all are truly cypress or cedar.

What are cedar leaves called?

Branchlets and leaves together are called sprays. Cedar trees are members of the cypress family. Their leaves are slender, evergreen and needle-like.

Is Red Cedar a true cedar?

Its common name is western redcedar (western red cedar in the UK), and it is also called Pacific redcedar, giant arborvitae, western arborvitae, just cedar, giant cedar, or shinglewood. It is not a true cedar of the genus Cedrus.

What is cedar in the Bible?

The cedar tree is a tree planted by God (Psalm 104:16, Isaiah 41:19). … The Bible describes the cedar tree as strong and durable (Isaiah 9:10), graceful and beautiful (Psalm 80:10, Ezekiel 17:23), high and tall (Amos 2:9, Ezekiel 17:22), fragrant (Song of Songs 4:11) and spreading wide (Psalm 80:10-11).

What Colour is cedar?

Most types of cedar wood are a pinkish-red color, though it can have some purple tones as well. As it ages it loses its reddish hues and becomes a silver or gray color.

Is Blue Spruce a cedar?

Although blue spruce and blue atlas cedar are both evergreens and, as such, similar in many ways, the two trees have a number of notable differences.

Are cedar trees strong?

A Western red cedar is tough and can go dormant for many years until conditions are right to grow. It can survive and grow in soils that are low in nutrients, but does better on soils with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

What is cedar trees good for?

Cedars work well as windbreaks, helping to protect other trees and plants from the wind. Windbreaks also block snow. The trees also keep valuable topsoil in place when the trees act as windbreaks along the edges of agricultural land. Cedar trees also protect the soil from being eroded by water.

Do cedar trees produce cones every year?

Red cedars begin to produce seed-bearing cones between the ages of 10 and 20 years, but they reach their peak production between 70 and 80 years. Once they begin growing viable seed cones, red cedars typically produce seed-bearing cones every two to three years.

Are the berries on cedar trees poisonous?

All upright tree-form Junipers are non-toxic, that includes Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), Southern Red Cedar(Juniperus silicicola), and Rocky Mountain Juniper(Juniperus scopulorum), as well as others.

Do cedar trees have buds?

Function. Although cedars are not flowering plants, they produce gendered reproductive organs called “cones.” Thus, they are called “conifers.” Insects often play a role in pollinating petalled flowers, but in the case of cedars, winds facilitate the pollination of cones that results in production of seeds.

What is the lifespan of a cedar tree?

Native to Virginia, the Eastern Red Cedar typically lives about 150 years, although some live to be as old as 300 years.

How long does it take to grow a cedar tree?

When grown from seed in nurseries, Eastern red cedar will take one to two years to reach an appropriate size for replanting. Trees taking root in the wild will develop large, strong root systems in rocky and shallow soil. However, specimens in such conditions will take longer to grow upward than those in standard soil.

Is a cedar tree a pine tree?

Cedar pine is an attractive pine with an open crown. … The species is also known as spruce pine because of the texture of the bark of a mature tree. Young trees have grayish bark, but over time they develop rounded ridges and scales like spruce trees, turning a deep shade of reddish brown.

Do cedar trees keep bugs away?

Cedar has long been used as a natural way to repel and inhibit insects like termites, certain ants, moths, mosquitoes, and cockroaches.

Do cedar trees deter ticks?

Cedar oil is a non-toxic, natural tick and insect repellent. It can be sprayed directly on clothing and skin. … Not only does cedar oil repel ticks and other irritating insects, but it kills them.

What is better red or white cedar?

Why Red Cedar is the Best Building Material – White Cedar vs. Red Cedar. … Although there are some key differences, it is important to note that white cedar is an excellent material. White cedar is slightly stronger than red cedar, almost as resistant to rot and decay, and has a beautiful finish.