Gold Cascade Deodar Cedar

The name says it all for the Gold Cascade Deodar Cedar, whose golden branches fall gracefully to the ground. Bright yellow on top, they are lime-green on the underside – a combination that makes the gold really stand out. The final form of this dwarf evergreen is in your hands. Remove the more upright stems as they slowly emerge and your can keep it as a low tumbler, 3 or 4 feet tall and up to 15 feet across. Encourage its upright tendencies, with pruning and a strong stake, and it becomes a broad pyramid of pendulous branches, rising to about 8 feet and spreading to 8 feet or so across. If you love the Himalayan cedar, one of our most graceful trees, but don’t have the space for a larger version, this variety is a wonderful choice. Growing 6 or 8 inches a year gives you plenty of time to decide the future form – which could also be as a potted tree or even a splendid bonsai. Grow it as a specimen, perhaps beside a gate or doorway, or let it cascade down a slope, flowing between rocks like a golden river. It would look amazing spilling over a retaining wall, or carpeting an open space with year-round color.

• Naturally cascading, you decide on groundcover or a more upright specimen tree
• Strong gold needles where the sun strikes, more lime-green underneath
• A spectacular pyramid of pendulous branches with some simple staking
• Drought tolerant, fast-growing and easy to grow
• Grows best where summers are cool, or if hot they should also be dry

Full sun is best for the Gold Cascade Deodar Cedar, as it will develop the strongest golden coloring, as well as vigorous growth. It will grow well in poor, rocky and sandy soils, but it pays to enrich the soil when planting, and water regularly, as young trees enjoy those better conditions. Drought tolerant once established. This species doesn’t enjoy the heat and humidity of the southeast, growing best where summers are cooler, or if hot, then also dry. It isn’t eaten by deer, and normally stays free of pests and diseases. Once it’s well-established, decide on the mature form you want and either remove rising stems to encourage it to sprawl, or select a central leader and trim back the side branches a little, to build a more upright pyramid.