Practical
Plants

Cedrus libani

Cedar Of Lebanon

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Cedrus genus in the family Pinaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Pinaceae
Genus
Cedrus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
30 m
Spread
15 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A manna is obtained from the tree[7][2]. No more details were given in the report.

Plant part
Sap
Product or use
Manna

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves and the wood are antiseptic and expectorant. They act to disinfect the respiratory tract[11].

Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Expectorant

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An oil similar to turpentine is obtained from the wood[12][13]. An essential oil from the wood is used in perfumery[13]. Wood - moderately hard, durable. Used for construction[1][12][13]. The wood is extremely durable and retains its delightful fragrance for many years[10].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Resin
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
N. Africa to W. Asia - Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.
Habitat
Forms forests at 1200 - 2000 metres[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - collect the cones in winter and keep in a warm room until they open[1]. Sow immediately in a cold frame[14]. One report says that a short cold stratification of one month improves germination rates[4]. Keep the seed pot moist, but be careful because the young seedlings are very prone to damp off, keep them well ventilated[4]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. Give them some protection from winter cold for their first winter or two outdoors[K]. Cuttings of terminal shoots can be tried in a frame in November but they are very difficult[4].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Thrives on most soils, being very tolerant of chalk, dry sites and of drought when it is established[3][15][8]. Prefers a rich loam or a sandy clay in full sun[1]. Succeeds in warm dry areas with less than 40cm of rain a year, but also in areas with cool summers and up to 200cm of rain[8]. Very intolerant of atmospheric pollution[3][15]. Small trees less than 50cm tall establish much quicker and better than taller trees, those more than 2 metres tall are difficult to establish[8]. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[8]. Fairly slow growing, trees rarely average more than 30cm increase in height per year[5]. Trees can be very long lived, to 300 years or more[5]. There are several named varieties selected for their ornamental value[6]. Small male cones are formed on the lower branches of trees, whilst the larger female cones are formed on higher branches[9]. These female cones persist on the tree for 2 - 3 years before breaking up[9]. Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[15][8]. The trees have a broad canopy and tend to hold any falling snow. This can lead to branches being broken by the weight of snow[15].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩1↩2

  6. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  9. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

  10. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  11. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  12. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  13. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  15. Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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