# Cedar (*Cedrus*)

Cedar trees are tall evergreens with fragrant wood. They have cones instead of flowers and provide shelter for many animals in the forest.

- **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests
- **Also known as:** Cedar Tree, True Cedar

![Cedar](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426504/objects/5980.jpg)

## Appearance

The Cedar is a majestic evergreen tree, often with a broad, conical crown and distinct horizontal branches. It has short, stiff, needle-like leaves, typically blue-green or dark green, grouped in dense clusters. Its unique barrel-shaped cones stand upright on the branches.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida

## Interesting facts

- Ancient pharaohs used cedar wood to build grand temples and ships!
- Cedar cones are unique because they grow upright like tiny barrels on the branches!
- Cedar wood has a naturally sweet, aromatic smell that helps keep insects away.
- The famous 'Cedars of God' forest in Lebanon has trees thousands of years old!

## Special abilities

- **Evergreen Power:** Cedar has tough, waxy needles that help it photosynthesize all year, even in cold weather, to survive and grow.
- **Rot-Resistant Armor:** Cedar can produce natural oils that make its wood resistant to rot and insects, helping it defend against decay.
- **Mountain Grip:** Cedar has strong, deep root systems that help it anchor firmly to steep or rocky slopes, allowing it to survive challenging terrains.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 20-50 m
- **Spread:** 10-20 m
- **Edible:** No
- **Size:** 100-300 cm
- **Lifespan:** 100-1000 years
- **Fruit Type:** Cone
- **Growth Rate:** Medium
- **Leaf Type:** Evergreen

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Red Crossbill](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-crossbill) (*Loxia curvirostra*) — Cracks open cedar cones to extract nutritious seeds.
- **Shelter:** [Red Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-squirrel) (*Sciurus vulgaris*) — Builds nests in cedar branches for protection and eats seeds.
- **Symbiotic with:** Rose Secotium (*Rhizopogon roseolus*) — Exchanges vital nutrients with cedar roots to aid growth.

## Traits

- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Coniferous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coniferous): Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

## Collections

- [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Enjoy looking at cedar trees from a safe distance and avoid climbing them.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Cedar?

Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Cedar?

20-50 m

### How wide does Cedar spread?

10-20 m

### Is Cedar edible?

No

### How big is Cedar?

100-300 cm

### How long does Cedar live?

100-1000 years

### Where is Cedar usually found?

Forests

### What kind of fruit does Cedar produce?

Cone

## Where to spot

- [Parque Forestal Polvoranca](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parque-forestal-polvoranca) — Comunidad de Madrid, ES · Park
- [Vallée-aux-Loups Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/vallee-aux-loups-arboretum) — Île-de-France, FR · Park
- [Schlosspark Koblenz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/schlosspark-koblenz) — Rheinland-Pfalz, DE · Park

[View all places to see Cedar](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cedar)

## More Trees

- [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*)
- [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*)
- [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*)
- [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*)

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Source: [Cedar: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar)