Cedar: characteristics, use & symbolism

Cedar

The cedar (Cedrus) belongs to the Pinacea genius and is a tall conifer (it can grow to 40 m high) originally from North Africa, the Middle East, and the Himalayas. It is long-lived, often lasting several centuries. There are several different species of Cedar throughout the world. The Cedar is Lebanon's symbol and its silhouette is on the country's flag.

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Why does EcoTree plant Cedars?

The ongoing climate change is revealing the limits of species that have difficulty adapting to their environment. Faced with this situation, EcoTree must adapt its management and consider using species that are less sensitive to drought. Cedar is one such species.

Cedar - Overview

The best-known species are the Cedar of Lebanon, the Cedar of the Himalayas of the Cedar of the Atlas. The tree can be of different colours. There are numerous green species, but also blue or red ones. The tree was introduced in Europe to reforest several areas, in particular the Pyrenees.

The cedar has a tight pyramid shape when it is young. Its top flattens out and its branches spread out, which gives the impression of separate floors. Its beautiful persistent foliage is made of short needles in rosettes. The cones, that are grey or brown depending on the species, mature over 2 or 3 years and drop progressively from the tree.

Cedar - Species requirements

Cedar usually grows between 1.400 and 2.000 meters of altitude but grows well in the plain. The tree grows well on all sorts of soil, even acid or chalky ones, as long as they are well-drained because stagnant humidity would drown its roots. It appreciates warm and sunny locations (who doesn't ?) and grows well in them, and to develop well it needs space. Cedar is very hardy and can even survive atmospheric pollution.

The Cedar's wood

The cedar wood is rot-proof. It has been used since antiquity to produce ship hulls or caskets of precious jewels and even sarcophagi. Nowadays, cedar's wood is used to create jewellery boxes or precious caskets. The wood repulses woodworms, insects and other creepy-crawlies that attack other types of wood. In aromatherapy, the essential oil of the tree is used for its healing, antiseptic, astringent and decongestant properties, or just to ward off mosquitoes.

The Cedar's symbolism

Because of its characteristics (size, diameter, lifespan), the cedar has become a symbol of greatness, of nobility, of strength and of incorruptibility. In the 3rd century, Origen wrote: "The Cedar never rots; using the cedar to build our homes is to preserve our soul from corruption." For Celtic astrology, the cedar symbolizes trust.

If you wish to offer a gift to your employees, the cedar is an ideal gift, as a symbol of team spirit and shared belonging. Offer a cedar to your employees to highlight how much you value an employee's contribution!

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Our goal is to enable anyone to do something that benefits nature and helps us to live in a more harmonious world. So why not become a tree owner in a European forest and help combat climate change?