Calocedrus decurrens

Common Names

Incense Cedar, California Incense Cedar, Incense-Cedar, California Incense-Cedar, White Cedar, California White Cedar, Post Cedar, Red Cedar

Summary

Incense Cedar is a native evergreen conifer of western North America from Oregon to Baja California with a broad conic to columnar crown and dense, flattened sprays of dark green, fragrant foliage; the reddish-brown bark exfoliates with age, foliage is aromatic when crushed, and cones are cylindrical with scales in decussate pairs resembling duck-beaks, with wind-dispersed seeds.

It prefers full sun to partial shade on well-drained soils, tolerating a range of soil types including sandy, loam, clay, and serpentine, with drought and heat tolerance and deep, infrequent watering when established; hardy in USDA zones 5A–8B; commonly used as a screen, hedge, or specimen, and valued for aromatic wood used in pencils and cabinetry; propagation is by seed or cuttings, and pruning is minimal, though young trees are fire-prone and sites should account for fire risk.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

70-110 ft

Spread

6-20 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5a-8b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, tolerates partial sun and partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, slightly acidic sandy loam soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6–7, slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green to dark green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color; evergreen.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen needle

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings (great difficulty), Grafting (for cultivars)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds, butterflies, other pollinators