Calocedrus (Libocedrus) decurrens

Calocedrus decurrens (libocedrus, river cedar, or California) - an evergreen conifer of the cypress family, native to North America, up to 40 m tall with a narrowly pyramidal crown in youth and broadly pyramidal in old trees. Individual specimens live up to 700 years.

Foliage is scaly, pointed, glossy, yellowish-green. Foliage on lateral shoots is 7 mm long, on axial shoots - 14 mm.

Trees are dioecious. Cones are arranged on branches in opposite pairs, consist of 4 (rarely 6) scales, ripen in autumn, several months after pollination.

In its native North America it grows on mountain slopes and river valleys in areas with high air humidity and a large amount of annual precipitation (up to 1000 mm).

Relatively shade-tolerant.

Hardiness zone: 6a

Care. Calocedrus should be placed in a location sheltered from wind. In suitable climatic conditions, with sufficient temperature and air and soil humidity, it requires no special care and can be used in urban landscaping. Young plants need protection from scorching sun.

Temperature. Warm-loving; tolerates short-term temperature drops to minus 25° C.

Soil. Prefers deep, fresh, light, well-aerated and permeable soils. Tolerates excess lime in the soil. Does not tolerate soil drying.

Watering — moisture-loving, but does not tolerate waterlogged soil.

Fertilizers - during periods of vigorous growth, feed with fertilizers for conifers.

Pruning not required

Propagation by seed, difficult by cuttings, ornamental forms by grafting

Pests root galls, bark beetles, pine moth

Diseases: rust

Uses: Recommended for solitary, group and avenue plantings in parks and large gardens. Well suited for planting near water bodies. Tolerates smoke, exhaust fumes and dust reasonably well. Can be grown for valuable timber.