Plant Min Zone: 6a
Plant Max Zone: 9b
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water / Rainfall: Low, Average
Soil Quality: Poor, Average
Bloom Season: None
Flower Color: None
Berry / Fruit Color: Green, Brown-Beige
Spring Foliage Color: Blue
Summer Foliage Color: Blue
Fall Foliage Color: Blue
Evergreen Foliage: Yes
Winter Interest: Yes
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: High
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low
Humidity Tolerance: Medium
Wind Tolerance: Medium, High
Poor Soil Tolerance: Rocky Soils, Sandy Soils
Height: 15' - 30'
Width: 10' - 15'
Growth Rate: Slow, Medium
Service Life: Tree: Service life varies
Maintenance Need: Low
Spreading Potential: N.A.
Yearly Trimming Tips: Selectively Prune into Small Tree Shape over Period of Many Years.
Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3
Best Side of House: South Exposure, West Exposure, East Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Survives Severe Drought, Tolerates Extreme Heat
Ornamental Features: Multiple Seasons of Interest, Fine Texture, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage
Special Landscape Uses: None
Possible Pest Problems: Occasional Problems, Deer
Plant Limitations: May get Occasional Winter-kill, Needs Thick Winter Mulch
Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca') is an outstanding ornamental conifer tree with the characteristic conical shape and bluish-silver color. Foliage density is very compact along the branches but with plenty of space between branches, enough to show off the wonderful architectural branching structure of the tree. It is cold and drought tolerant enough to survive in much of Kansas with mature specimens (15-30' tall) occasionally seen in Lawrence and Kansas City. In Eastern Kansas, typically our 40 inches of rainfall is sufficient without extra water if planted in good soils. Avoid poorly drained clay soils especially that hold water for more than a day. Numerous cultivar selections are available, many for improved blue color of the needles or different growth forms. There is at least one "weeping" selection that I have witnessed prospering in Lawrence, KS for many years surviving -16 degrees F and a week of single digit highs in February, 2021.