Cedrus libani - Lebanese Cedar

The Cedrus libani, grand emblematic cedar of Lebanon, is a majestic tree characterised by a pyramidal habit during its first thirty years, then becoming tabular, displaying a flattened crown. It is its spread-out, almost horizontally arranged branches that give the cedar of Lebanon its recognisable silhouette. Its foliage of a very dark green allows it to stand out admirably in the landscape. Because this tree is a monument, often used in isolation in parks, it finds its place in large gardens, to which it brings a unique touch. Bonsai enthusiasts have also made it one of their favourites.

The Cedrus libani, also called Cedar of Lebanon, belongs to the pine family. It is precisely native to Mount Lebanon, where it is found at an altitude of over 1,500 m (4,921 ft). This legendary tree, which once covered most of the Lebanese territory, is now present in a few areas spared by human activities and climate change. It prefers a temperate climate and deep, well-drained soil and can reach an average height of 25-30 m (82-98 ft) with a spread of 15-18 m (49 ft-59 ft). Its growth is moderately fast in deep and moist soil. Its trunk, which can become very wide, often divides into several large, almost horizontal branches that bear similarly horizontal twigs, forming a table at its crown. The bark, initially smooth and shiny, becomes fissured into small scales with age. Its evergreen foliage is made of sharp needles 3 cm (1.2 in) long, borne on short twigs. Flowering takes place in September-October. The male flowers are elongated catkins, conical in shape and brown in colour. The female flowers shaped as small green balls, appear at the ends of short twigs. The fruits are upright furcones 10 cm (3.9 in) long that remain on the tree for 3 years before opening.

The Cedrus libani is a majestic conifer of imposing size that demands to be planted in isolation in a large short grass meadow to fully appreciate its beautiful silhouette. In a very large garden, several specimens can also be planted along a pathway. This pathway will then take on a completely different dimension and a style that is both original and romantic. Space the trees sufficiently so that they do not interfere with each other later on. The cedar of Lebanon also lends itself very well to bonsai cultivation.