Antonio Mcgowan
Incense cedar, or Calocedrus decurrens, is a species of conifer native to western North America, with a range spanning from Oregon to California and northwest Mexico. It is a large tree with a broad conic crown, and its bark is orange-brown, weathering to grayish, and has a spicy fragrance. The name Calocedrus means beautiful cedar and the tree is known for its adaptability to varying conditions and locations. It is also host to the incense-cedar mistletoe, a parasitic plant often found hanging from its branches.
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What You'll Learn
Incense cedar is a species of conifer native to western North America
Incense cedar, or Calocedrus decurrens, is a species of conifer native to western North America. It is a large tree, with a trunk diameter of up to 10 feet and a broad conic crown of spreading branches. The bark is orange-brown, weathering to grey, and the foliage is produced in flattened sprays with short, scale-like leaves. This tree is native to parts of Oregon and California and thrives in the dry summers of the West Coast, but it is also adaptable to wetter, more humid conditions in the East. It grows at altitudes of 160 to 9500 feet and is distributed in small populations on the east slopes of Mount Hood, south to the Santiam River, becoming more common in the Cascade Mountains, the Siskiyou and Klamath mountains, and through the Sierra Nevada of California to Baja, Mexico.
The incense cedar is one of the most fire- and drought-tolerant plants in California. Its thick, fire-resistant bark allows older trees to survive surface fires, and it can close its leaf pores (stomata) to prevent water loss. While the tree can be killed by hot, stand-replacing crown fires, it spreads rapidly after lower-intensity burns, giving it a competitive advantage over other species. The wood of the incense cedar is soft, light, and aromatic, with a pleasant odour that repels insects. It is resistant to decay, with the exception of pocket dry rot, and is easily worked, making it a popular ornamental tree in Europe and the eastern United States. It is also grown as a windbreak or green fence and has been used for various purposes by Native Americans, including as a hearth board for lighting fires, for making bows, and for medicinal and culinary purposes.
The incense cedar is a beautiful tree with a unique, wavy branching pattern. It is easy to grow in a garden but requires plenty of room. It tolerates a variety of ecological conditions and grows in mixed conifer forests in the foothills and mid-elevations, on substrates ranging from serpentine to granitic soils. It is well-adapted to the warm, dry summers and relatively wet, mild winters of southwest Oregon. The incense cedar is the only North American Calocedrus species and was once the wood of choice for pencils due to its straight grain and easy sharpenability. Its former scientific name was Libocedrus decurrens, derived from the words for frankincense, an aromatic compound, and cedar.
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It is adaptable to varying conditions and locations
The incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) is a highly adaptable tree species, capable of thriving in varying conditions and locations. It is native to the west coast of North America, particularly in California, Oregon, and a small part of northwest Mexico. Within these regions, the incense cedar exhibits a remarkable ability to adapt to diverse ecological conditions and microclimates.
One of the defining characteristics of the incense cedar is its drought tolerance. It is well-suited to the dry summers and mild winters of southwest Oregon and California. The tree can close its leaf pores (stomata) to prevent water loss, making it exceptionally drought-resistant. This adaptation allows it to survive in arid conditions where other tree species might struggle.
The incense cedar is also remarkably fire-resistant. Its thick bark acts as a protective barrier, enabling older trees to withstand surface fires. While the tree can be killed by intense crown fires, it has a competitive advantage over other species due to its rapid regeneration after lower-intensity burns. This fire resistance has been recognized by Native Americans, who traditionally used the bark fiber for friction fire-making.
In addition to its drought and fire tolerance, the incense cedar is adaptable to varying soil types. It can grow on a range of substrates, from serpentine to granitic soils. The tree is also relatively shade-tolerant and can regenerate on mineral soil or thick layers of litter and duff. This adaptability allows it to thrive in mixed conifer forests and riparian habitats.
The incense cedar is not just limited to dry conditions, however. While it is most commonly found in dry sites, it can also adapt to wetter, more humid environments. Its ability to tolerate varying moisture levels is evident in its growth as a riparian (stream-side) tree, where it can access higher moisture conditions.
The adaptability of the incense cedar to varying conditions and locations has contributed to its popularity as an ornamental tree in Europe and the eastern United States. It is prized for its beauty, with attractive bark, foliage, and branching patterns. Its insect-repelling aroma and workability make it a favorite for chests and closets, and it is also used for fencing, siding, and interior paneling.
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It is fire- and drought-tolerant
The incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) is a species of conifer native to western North America, with the bulk of the range in the United States, from central western Oregon through most of California and the extreme west of Nevada, and also a short distance into northwest Mexico in northern Baja California. It is one of the most fire- and drought-tolerant plants in California.
The incense cedar has thick, fire-resistant bark that allows older trees to survive surface fires. However, the tree can be killed by hot, stand-replacing crown fires. It spreads rapidly after lower-intensity burns, giving it a competitive advantage over other species such as the bigcone Douglas-fir. The wood is soft, light, and aromatic, with an insect-repelling fragrance, and is generally resistant to rot, though it can be susceptible to pocket dry rot.
The incense cedar is well-adapted to the warm, dry summers and relatively wet, mild winters of southwest Oregon. It can grow in a variety of ecological conditions, including riparian (stream-side) environments or under other high-moisture conditions, but it is much more common in dry sites. It can tolerate shade and can grow on a range of substrates, from serpentine to granitic soils. It is easy to grow in a garden but requires plenty of room.
Native Americans in California used the incense cedar as a hearth board for lighting fires by friction, and the wood was also one of their favoured materials for making bows. The leaves were used in decoctions for stomach trouble and as a vapour infusion for colds, and the bark fibre was used for basketry, twine, and friction fire-making. The incense cedar is now grown as an ornamental tree in Europe and the eastern United States, valued for its drought tolerance and resistance to summer heat.
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It has fragrant wood that repels insects
The incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) is a species of conifer native to western North America, with the bulk of the range in the United States, from central western Oregon through most of California and the extreme west of Nevada, and also a short distance into northwest Mexico in northern Baja California. It is the most widely known cedar species and is often simply called Incense Cedar.
Incense cedar is a fine-grained, easily worked, aromatic wood that is generally resistant to decay and insects. Its fragrant wood is known to repel insects, making it a popular choice for chests and closets. The wood's aroma and workability make it a favourite for these storage items, as it keeps insects at bay.
Incense cedar is also grown as an ornamental tree in Europe and the eastern United States, particularly in locations with cool summer climates like Britain, Washington, and British Columbia. It is well-adapted to varying conditions and locations, making it a versatile and attractive option for gardeners and landscapers.
The tree's scientific name, Calocedrus, is derived from the Greek word for "beautiful cedar". This name reflects the tree's aesthetic qualities, including its beautiful bark, foliage, and branching pattern. The incense cedar's bark is particularly notable, with a thick, fire-resistant quality that allows older trees to tolerate surface fires.
In addition to its insect-repelling properties, the wood of the incense cedar has historically been used by Native Americans for various purposes, including as a hearth board for lighting fires by friction, and for making bows due to its excellent flexibility and compression strength-to-weight ratio.
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Native Americans used incense cedar for medicinal and culinary purposes
Incense cedar, or Calocedrus decurrens, is a conifer native to western North America, with the bulk of its range in the US and extending a short distance into northwest Mexico. The tree is easily recognisable by its beautiful bark, foliage, and branching pattern. Native Americans have a long history of using incense cedar for both medicinal and culinary purposes.
Medicinally, Native Americans used incense-cedar leaves in decoctions for stomach trouble and as a vapour infusion for colds. The smoke from cedar leaf is also employed by many different Native American tribes in prayer, ceremonies, and rituals for both spiritual and practical purposes. For example, the Navajo and Lakota consider cedar to be one of the most sacred ceremonial herbs, using it as an offering to the Spirit World, to amplify prayer, and as an aid in visions. Cedar is also used to help the body and mind in times of spiritual anxiety and stress, and as a spiritual guide to help people find their purpose in life.
In addition to its medicinal and spiritual uses, incense cedar was also used by Native Americans for culinary purposes. The leaves were used as a food spice, adding flavour to dishes. The bark fibre was also used for basketry or twine, and the branches were used for filters or brooms. The wood of the incense cedar tree is soft and light, with a pleasant odour, and is generally resistant to decay and insects. This made it a useful resource for Native Americans, who used it for friction fire-making and fuel.
Today, the incense cedar tree still holds cultural significance for many Native American communities. While it is no longer the species of choice for wood pencils due to the rise of tropical hardwoods, the tree is still valued for its aromatic wood and is used in siding, window sashes, fencing, and interior paneling. The incense cedar tree's adaptability and cultural importance have ensured its presence in the lives of Native Americans for generations.
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Frequently asked questions
The scientific name for incense cedar is Calocedrus decurrens.
Incense cedar is native to western North America, specifically California, Oregon, Nevada, and northwest Mexico. It is also grown as an ornamental tree in Europe and the eastern United States, including Washington and British Columbia.
Incense cedar is a large coniferous evergreen tree with a trunk diameter of up to 10 feet and a broad conic crown. It has beautiful bark, foliage, and branching, with short, scale-like leaves that are bright green. The bark is orange-brown, weathering to grayish, and becomes fissured and peeling on older trees. The wood has a pleasant odor and is resistant to decay and insects.
