Calocedrus decurrens
Common name:
Incense Cedar
Pronunciation:
kal-o-SED-rus de-KER-enz
Family:
Cupressaceae
Genus:
Synonyms:
formerly Libocedras decurrens
Type:
Conifer
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:
Yes
- Conifer (but not a true cedar), evergreen, stiff or narrowly columnar in youth, 70-110 ft (20-35 m) tall, regular in outline, branchlets flattened, terminating in dense, fan-like sprays, wedge-shaped joints. Bark light or reddish brown. Leaves in 4's closely pressed, a "fluted wine-glass" pattern formed by each outside (lateral) pair of leaves, lustrous dark green throughout the year (little or no winter browning), emitting an aromatic odor when crushed. Male cones small (3 mm), yellow; female cones cylindrical, 2-2.5 cm long, composed of 6 paired, flattened, and pointed scales ("duck-beaks"), ripening in late summer at low elevations and a month or more later at high elevations.
- Sun or partial shade. Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soils, but shows adaptability to different soil types. Does not usually develop brown "winter burn" color as does Thuja plicata.
- Hardy to USDA Zone 5 Native range from western Oregon to Nevada, south to California. It is one of the four native "cedars" (so-called) found in Oregon. For a comparison of the four "cedars" see Four "cedar" species native to Oregon.
- The cultivar 'Maupin Glow' has yellow and green foliage.
- calocedrus: from the Greek, kalos, beautiful, and kedros, cedar; decurrens: extending down (L).
- Oregon State Univ. campus: older tree south of Fairbanks; two near the SW corner Monroe Ave. and 11th St.
Click image to enlarge
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in habitat
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plant habit
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plant habit, screen
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branchlets
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branchlets
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leaves
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branchlets, comparison
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leaves, comparison
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branchlets and male cones
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branchlet with female "flowers" (* megasporangia) or small cones
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beginning of a female cone, spring
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female (seed) cone development, spring
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branchlets and female cones
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female cones, current season
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male and female cones
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female cones at seed drop, early fall
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cone at seed drop
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cone and seeds
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trunk, bark
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trunk,bark, older tree
