Incense cedar is an aromatic evergreen conifer native to the Pacific slopes of western North America, from Oregon to California and beyond. In its native habitat, this remarkable tree can live over 1,000 years and reach 100-150 feet, but in gardens it grows more modestly to 30-50 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide, with a narrow columnar form when young that may broaden into a conical or rounded crown over time. Hardy in zones 5-8, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates both summer heat and humidity, even performing well in eastern gardens despite its western mountain origins. The foliage is distinctly aromatic, releasing a pleasant scent when brushed or crushed.
Partial Sun
Moderate
5-8
600in H x 120in W
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High
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Incense cedar brings authentic western mountain character to eastern gardens, adapting with surprising resilience to climates far from its native Cascades and Sierras. Its narrow, columnar juvenile form gradually matures into a handsome conical outline, offering structural year-round interest without the maintenance demands of many conifers. The aromatic evergreen foliage and exceptional longevity make it a living legacy tree, one that can grace a landscape for centuries while asking very little in return.
Incense cedar serves as an excellent hedging plant, capable of tolerating shearing to maintain desired size and form. Its aromatic foliage and columnar habit also make it valuable for screening, windbreaks, and as a focal point specimen in landscape design.
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Incense cedar tolerates shearing well, making it suitable for hedge management and formal sculpting. Its naturally narrow-columnar youth form requires minimal pruning; allow it to mature naturally if you prefer its conical outline, or shear annually to maintain a more compact hedge habit.
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“Native to the Cascades, Sierras, and coastal mountain ranges from Oregon south through California to southwestern Nevada and northern Baja California, incense cedar typically grows scattered among mixed conifer forests on western slopes. It represents an ancient lineage; in its natural range, individual trees regularly exceed 1,000 years of age, anchoring ecosystems and witnessing millennia of forest change. Its introduction to eastern cultivation revealed an unexpected adaptability, allowing gardeners far from its mountain homeland to grow a tree with deep evolutionary roots in western wilderness.”