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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsBlue Atlas cedar (*Cedrus atlantica* Glauca Group or ‘Glauca’) is a large evergreen specimen tree for a sunny, well-drained site with room for a broad mature crown. Choose its permanent location before planting: it tolerates a range of soils and, once established, drought, but it is difficult to transplant and routine pruning is unnecessary.
Which tree is called Blue Atlas cedar?
The name generally refers to the blue-needled Atlas cedar listed as Cedrus atlantica Glauca Group or Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’. The Royal Horticultural Society profile also records names such as Cedrus atlantica f. glauca and Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica Glauca Group. North Carolina State Extension profiles ‘Glauca’. Check the plant label, since naming is not completely uniform.
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Do not assume that the weeping ‘Glauca Pendula’ is the same shape or will have the same footprint. It is a separately named form; the size estimates below describe the Glauca Group or ‘Glauca’, not that weeping selection. See the RHS Blue Atlas cedar profile and North Carolina State Extension’s profile.
How much room does a Blue Atlas cedar need?
Plan for a large specimen tree rather than a compact foundation planting. The RHS estimates its Glauca Group profile can exceed 12 metres tall and 8 metres wide, and gives 20–50 years to maturity. North Carolina State Extension lists ‘Glauca’ at 40–100 feet tall and 30–60 feet wide. These are separate published profile estimates, not a guaranteed final size for every tree or site.
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- Atlas Cedar Seeds for Planting: Grow Cedrus atlantica from evergreen tree seeds for blue green needles, strong architectural branching and an impressive mature form. These conifer seeds are ideal for specimen trees, large landscapes, windbreak plantings and long term bonsai projects
- Cedrus Atlantica Evergreen Tree Seeds: Atlas Cedar is a true cedar native to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa, recognized for clusters of short needles and substantial horizontal branching. Seed grown trees naturally vary in foliage color from green to attractive blue green tones
- Dramatic Specimen Evergreen: Young trees typically develop a pyramidal shape before becoming broader and more irregular with age. Mature specimens create striking landscape silhouettes with strong branches and year round evergreen foliage
- Long Lived Landscape Tree: Atlas Cedar can become a substantial tree when grown unrestricted, making site selection important. Allow ample room for the mature canopy and use it as a focal specimen where its distinctive branching structure can be appreciated
- Cold Stratify Before Sowing: Seeds generally benefit from a period of cold moist stratification before planting in moist well drained growing media. Grow seedlings in abundant sunlight, provide regular moisture while establishing and avoid persistently waterlogged soil | 50 Seeds
A 2000 University of Arkansas Extension article describes an eventual size of 60 feet tall and 35 feet across. It warns that young trees can look well placed before their mature form outgrows the space. Allow for the crown and nearby structures, paths, utilities, and other plants when selecting a permanent location. The Arkansas estimate is in its Blue Atlas cedar article.
Where should you plant it?
Light
Choose full sun if possible. The RHS recommends full sun; North Carolina State Extension lists full sun to partial shade, making sun the clearest preferred exposure in the guidance.
Rank #2
- This dramatic, weeping evergreen makes a special addition to any landscape
- Naturally grows slowly with with a sprawling horizontal habit, though often trained into an upright, serpentine form
- Weeping branchlets display icy-blue needles, creating a graceful, waterfall-like effect
- Such a whimsical conifer that it usually engages everyone who sees it
- 3 - Year plant will reach 15 feet at maturity - shipped in container with soil. Hardy zone 5-9
Soil and drainage
Good drainage matters more than a narrow soil recipe. The RHS lists chalk, clay, loam, and sand, and acid, neutral, or alkaline pH, provided the soil is well drained. North Carolina State Extension says the tree prefers acidic, well-drained loam but tolerates alkaline, sandy, and clay soils when drainage is good. Avoid a spot where water remains around the roots. Neither profile establishes fertilizer or a particular soil amendment as essential.
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How should you water a newly planted tree?
Established Blue Atlas cedars tolerate drought: North Carolina State Extension notes this when roots are not restricted by space, and Arkansas Extension says the tree has great drought tolerance once established. That does not mean a recently planted tree can be left without attention. The cited profiles do not specify a new-tree watering schedule, so do not apply the mature-tree tolerance as a planting-year rule. Use locally appropriate guidance for watering during establishment.
Rank #3
- This dramatic, weeping evergreen makes a special addition to any landscape
- Naturally grows slowly with with a sprawling horizontal habit, though often trained into an upright, serpentine form
- Weeping branchlets display icy-blue needles, creating a graceful, waterfall-like effect
- Such a whimsical conifer that it usually engages everyone who sees it
- Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar will reach 15 feet at maturity - shipped in container with soil. Hardy zone 5-9
Does it need pruning, and can it be moved?
Routine pruning is not required according to the RHS. North Carolina State Extension cautions that removing lower branches tends to leave the tree misshapen. Preserve its natural branching form instead of trying to keep a large specimen small through repeated cutting.
Choose the permanent site carefully because North Carolina State Extension describes the tree as difficult to transplant. A young nursery tree may not reveal the space its mature crown will need.
Rank #4
- A compact dwarf upright form of Blue Atlas Cedar - only reaches 10 feet tall
- Icy-blue foliage on short upsweeping branches
- Great for Bonsai
- Drought tolerant when established
- 2 - Year plant will reach 10 feet at maturity - shipped in container with soil. Hardy zone 5-8
What problems should you watch for?
The RHS lists possible susceptibility to conifer aphid and honey fungus; North Carolina State Extension lists pine needle scale. These are potential problems, not signs that every tree will be infested or diseased. Identify the cause before treating a symptom, and seek local diagnostic advice if damage is significant.
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How hardy is Blue Atlas cedar?
Hardiness ratings depend on region and system. The RHS assigns its Glauca Group profile H6 in the UK system, describing H6 as hardy in all of the UK and northern Europe and associating the band with minimum temperatures of -20 to -15 °C. North Carolina State Extension lists USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6a–9b for ‘Glauca’. These ratings use different regional systems and are not directly interchangeable or guarantees for every microclimate. Gardeners elsewhere should consult guidance for their own region.
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- Brand: CZ Grain
- Sunlight exposure: Full Sun
- Plant or animal product type: bonsai
- Material feature: Natural
Can you propagate it?
The RHS lists seed and semi-hardwood cuttings as propagation methods, but does not provide a step-by-step protocol on its profile. It also does not establish whether seedlings will reproduce a named cultivar true to type; check cultivar-specific advice before relying on seed to preserve a particular selection.
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