Himalayan Cedar

Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodara) is the conifer to plant when you have real space and want a tree that looks like it has always been there. In an Australian garden it settles at around 15m tall and 8m wide, with a straight leader, soft blue green needles and branches that sweep down to a weeping skirt near the ground. It is frost hardy, wind firm and drought tolerant once established.

Why you'll love it

• A weeping outline you cannot fake. The branch tips droop from a young age, so even a small plant already has the shape it will carry at 15m.
• Evergreen shade and shelter. The canopy is dense enough to cool a paddock corner or filter wind across an open block, all year rather than half of it.
• Cold and dry both suit it. Frost hardy for tablelands and cool southern districts, and drought tolerant once the roots are down.
• Very little maintenance. No pruning is needed beyond removing a competing leader while the tree is young.

Where it works best

Feature planting on a large block. Give it the open ground it needs. Allow at least 8m of clear width so the lower branches can sweep to the ground, which is the whole reason to plant this tree.

Driveways and avenues. Space trees 10m to 12m apart along a long drive. Closer than that and the skirts collide, the lower limbs lift, and you lose the form.

Windbreaks and shade. A single row on the windward boundary of a rural block filters gales rather than blocking them.

Growing Himalayan Cedar in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open air. It belongs in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, from the southern tablelands through to Adelaide and Perth. Humid tropical and subtropical gardens are not its country, and needle health suffers there.

Soil. Deep, free draining soil gives the best growth. It manages sandy and gravelly ground well, but waterlogged clay causes root rot, so plant on a mound where drainage is doubtful.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, watering slowly so the moisture reaches depth. After that it is largely self sufficient. A slow release fertiliser each spring for the first few years is all the feeding required.

Pruning. Leave the lower branches alone. Removing them destroys the shape and never grows back. The only useful cut is taking out a second leader if two form at the top.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in five sizes: a 200mm pack of 6, a single 300mm, then 45L, 100L and 200L specimens. The 200mm and 300mm plants are knee high or thereabouts and suit a windbreak row or shelter belt. The 45L and 100L sizes are the usual middle ground for a garden feature, and the 200L arrives as a substantial tree with years of growth already in it.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect roughly 30 to 50cm of height a year once established, and stake young trees for the first two winters on exposed sites. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Growing and maintaining conifers
• Browse the full conifer range
• Best trees for lining a driveway
• Compare feature trees for large gardens

Common questions

Is it too big for a suburban backyard?

Usually, yes. At 15m by 8m it needs an acreage block, a large rural garden or a broad open verge. On a standard suburban lot it will outgrow the space and the skirt will have to be cut off.

How fast does it grow?

Around 30 to 50cm a year in good conditions, faster on deep soil with summer water and slower on dry gravel. It is not a quick screen, it is a long term tree.

Will it handle frost and snow?

Yes. It is a mountain species and frost hardy, so tableland and alpine fringe gardens suit it well.