Leaves & needles
Stiff dark green needles occur singly on new shoots and in clusters on short spurs.
IntroducedEvergreenTypical height 20–35 m
Cedar of Lebanon
Cedrus libani
A stately cedar whose mature crown spreads into broad, horizontal tiers.
THROUGH THE YEAR
Cedar of Lebanon through the seasons
Mature trees form wide horizontal platforms of foliage.
Evergreen; upright barrel-shaped cones develop on branches.
Strong layered crown stays green; young trees are more conical.
Typical open-grown form. This tree keeps foliage in winter, shedding older leaves or needles gradually. Pruned, sheltered and young trees can look different.
LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER
How to identify cedar of lebanon
Bark
Dark brown-grey bark with close ridges and fissures.
Twigs
Brown young shoots may be slightly hairy; short shoots carry needle rosettes.
Buds
Small brown buds at shoot tips, partly obscured by needles.
Flowers & pollen
No true flowers: upright male pollen cones appear among the evergreen needles, releasing pollen in autumn.
Fruit, seeds & cones
Upright barrel-shaped seed cones mature on branches and break apart there.
Images show typical features and are not to scale. Confirm several features using the reference sources below.
CARE WITH PURPOSE
Caring for cedar of lebanon
Help it thrive
Needs an open, spacious, well-drained site. Preserve its wide root zone and avoid soil level changes around mature trees.
Pruning advice
Minimal pruning preserves its characteristic tiers. Have major limbs assessed before intervention.
When can it be pruned?
April–August for necessary light work
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Highlighted months are an indicative window for the work described, not a reason to prune every year. An unshaded month is not an absolute ban.
Timing must suit the tree's health, weather, wildlife and legal protection. Avoid severe frost, drought and vulnerable new leaf growth. Mature trees, major branches and suspected defects need professional assessment.
Tree health: what to watch for
Heavy reduction can permanently spoil the crown; large limbs require professional judgement.
Identification & care references
Guide researched November 2026. Identification remains provisional until several features agree. UK native means native in some part of the UK, not necessarily your area.
Before work in England, check tree preservation orders, conservation-area restrictions and wildlife protection. Official tree protection guidance ↗