Upright Silver Atlas Cedar

For a striking evergreen specimen that fits into a smaller space, look no further than the Upright Silver Atlas Cedar. This small tree forms a narrow column of ascending branches, reaching 12 feet within a decade, and probably maturing around 20 feet tall. Yet it stays just 3 feet wide for years, and matures to no more than 6 feet across. It’s perfect when you need a taller tree, but have limited width available. It has a single central trunk, and the side branches rise upwards, rather than horizontal which is how it stays so slim. Use it in a smaller garden, or when you have a narrow space to fill. Easy to grow and drought tolerant, you will love the sparkling, silver-blue needles, carried in distinctive clusters along the branches. Older trees may produce attractive upright blue cones too. A true cedar, closely related to the biblical cedar of Lebanon, this distinctive tree is tough, long-lived, and a dependable, trouble-free plant everyone loves – you will too.

• Slender, upright form with ascending branches round a central trunk
• Beautiful silver-blue needles are colorful all year round
• No more than 6 feet wide when mature at around 20 feet tall
• Very heat and drought tolerant
• Grows well in alkaline soil

Plant the Upright Silver Atlas Cedar in full sun for strong growth. The soil should be well-drained, and doesn’t have to be rich, even drier sandy soils are suitable, although the best growth happens in richer soils. It tolerates alkaline soil, and once established is very drought tolerant. Grows best in areas with cooler summers, even if they are dry, or in hot, dry regions. It’s very suitable for areas at higher altitudes. It isn’t so happy in places like the southeast, or anywhere summers are hot and humid. Deer don’t eat it and it rarely has any pest or disease problems. Pruning isn’t needed, but we recommend keeping a single central trunk for protection from storm damage, and also to maintain the narrowest form.