Overview
Bring the grandeur of the Western forests to your home with this magnificent Incense Cedar live plant. This offering is for one Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) seedling, approximately 1 to 1.5 years old, ready to establish in your garden. The Incense Cedar is renowned for its immense, symmetrical form at maturity, boasting graceful, bright green plumes of aromatic, lace-like foliage. Its heavily-buttressed trunk is clad in deeply-furrowed, cinnamon-colored bark, adding year-round visual interest. These impressive trees are native to mountain forests across Oregon, California, Nevada, and Baja California, and can thrive as ornamentals throughout much of the United States, particularly excelling in arid regions. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, growing Incense Cedar provides a rewarding experience, transforming your landscape with its unique characteristics and spicy fragrance.
The Calocedrus decurrens seedling you receive will have a root plug about the size of a large marker, ensuring a robust start. While foliage size and height may vary, the consistent root plug size means each plant is of comparable age and vigor. These young trees are perfect for planting into a larger 3-5 gallon container or directly into your outdoor space. With proper care, your Incense Cedar will grow into a striking specimen, offering beauty and ecological benefits for decades to come. Its adaptability to various conditions, from full sun to shadier spots, makes Incense Cedar live plant a versatile choice for many garden designs.
Key Benefits
The Incense Cedar offers a multitude of advantages for any landscape, making it a highly desirable choice for gardeners seeking a resilient and beautiful tree. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, this conifer provides numerous environmental and practical benefits.
- Aromatic Foliage: Enjoy the distinctive spicy fragrance emitted by the Incense Cedar’s lace-like foliage, which adds a sensory dimension to your garden. This natural aroma is a key characteristic of the aromatic cedar tree.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, Incense Cedars are remarkably tolerant of drought conditions, making them an excellent choice for water-wise gardening and arid climates. This resilience simplifies Incense Cedar tree care.
- Versatile Planting Options: This species thrives in a range of conditions, from full sun to partial shade, and can adapt to both dry and relatively wet soils, offering flexibility in placement.
- Architectural Beauty: With its symmetrical form, bright green foliage, and cinnamon-colored bark, the Incense Cedar provides significant architectural interest and year-round beauty to any landscape.
- Low Maintenance: This hardy tree requires minimal ongoing care once established, allowing you to enjoy its majestic presence without constant attention. It’s a great option for those interested in growing Incense Cedar with less fuss.
- Wildlife Habitat: The dense foliage and cones provide shelter and food for various birds and small wildlife, contributing to local biodiversity.
- Erosion Control: Its robust root system helps stabilize soil and prevent erosion, particularly on slopes or in areas prone to soil movement.
Plant Care & Growing Tips
Caring for your Incense Cedar live plant is straightforward, thanks to its inherent hardiness and adaptability. These seedlings are cultivated from seed and are ready to be planted into a larger container or directly into your garden. Upon arrival, ensure the root plug remains moist until planting. For optimal growth, choose a location that receives full sun to partial shade. While Incense Cedars can tolerate shadier conditions, they tend to develop their most symmetrical and dense form in sunnier spots. They are adaptable to various soil types but prefer well-draining soil. Ensure the planting site is not waterlogged, as consistent wet feet can be detrimental to young trees. The Calocedrus decurrens seedling will benefit from a thorough drenching after planting, followed by allowing the soil to dry down well between subsequent waterings. This mimics their natural habitat and encourages deep root development.
When it comes to fertilization, a balanced slow-release fertilizer can be applied in the spring after the first year of growth, following product instructions. Avoid over-fertilizing, especially with young plants. Incense Cedars are generally pest and disease resistant, but monitoring for any signs of stress is always a good practice. They are remarkably tolerant of drought and salt, making them suitable for a wide range of environments. They are typically hardy in USDA zones 5-9, though specific microclimates can influence their suitability. Proper Incense Cedar tree care during the initial establishment phase, focusing on consistent moisture and good drainage, will set your tree up for decades of healthy growth. Pruning is rarely necessary for shape, as the tree naturally develops a beautiful form, but remove any dead or damaged branches as needed.
Size & Details
This offering is for one Incense Cedar live plant, specifically a small seedling that is approximately 1 to 1.5 years old. The root plug, which forms the base of the seedling, is roughly the size of a large marker, indicating a healthy and established root system ready for transplant. Foliage size and overall height will vary slightly among individual seedlings, as is natural with seed-grown plants, but the consistent root plug size ensures a comparable starting point for all. These seedlings are ideally sized for immediate transplanting into a 3 to 5-gallon container if you wish to grow them out further before permanent placement, or directly into your garden bed. The Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) is a moderate to fast-growing tree, and with proper Incense Cedar tree care, it will quickly begin to establish itself and grow. At maturity, these majestic trees can reach impressive heights of 70 to 100 feet or more, with a spread of 15 to 25 feet, developing into an iconic, conical shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: How big does this Incense Cedar seedling get? A: This is a small Incense Cedar live plant, about 1 to 1.5 years old. At maturity, Incense Cedars can reach 70-100 feet tall and 15-25 feet wide, becoming a majestic landscape feature.
- Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The seedling is shipped with its root plug, which is about the size of a large marker. It is ready to be planted into a 3-5 gallon container or directly into the ground.
- Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Incense Cedar is an outdoor tree, best suited for landscaping. While it can be started in a container, it will eventually need to be planted in the ground to reach its full potential.
- Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For best growth and form, the Calocedrus decurrens seedling prefers full sun to partial shade, meaning at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, Incense Cedars are considered relatively easy to care for once established. They are drought-tolerant and adaptable to various soil conditions, simplifying Incense Cedar tree care.
- Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your seedling is guaranteed to arrive healthy and in good condition, ready for planting. We ensure careful packaging to protect the plant during transit.
- Q: When is the best time to plant Incense Cedar? A: The best time for growing Incense Cedar is typically in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate, allowing the roots to establish before extreme heat or cold.
- Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Incense Cedars are hardy in USDA zones 5-9. If you are in these zones, your tree should tolerate winter conditions well once established.
- Q: What type of soil does Incense Cedar prefer? A: This tree is adaptable but thrives in well-draining soil. It can tolerate both dry and shadier, wetter conditions, giving gardeners flexibility.
- Q: How often should I water my Incense Cedar seedling? A: After planting, water thoroughly. Then, allow the soil to dry down well between thorough drenchings, particularly for young plants, to encourage strong root development.




























