Heidi Norton
The incense cedar, or Calocedrus decurrens, is a species of conifer native to western North America. The tree is characterised by its thick, fire-resistant bark, flattened sprays of evergreen foliage, and fragrant, insect-repelling wood. Incense cedars can grow up to 150 feet tall and have a trunk diameter of up to 10 feet. They are well-adapted to a variety of ecological conditions and are especially drought-tolerant. The wood of the incense cedar has been used for a variety of purposes, including pencils, window sashes, and chests, and the tree also provides habitat and food for a number of bird species.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calocedrus decurrens |
| Common Name | Incense Cedar |
| Native Region | Western North America, including Oregon, California, Nevada, and northern Baja California in Mexico |
| Altitude Range | 50–2,900 m (160–9,510 ft) |
| Tree Height | Up to 150 feet |
| Trunk Diameter | Up to 10 feet |
| Bark | Thick, fire-resistant, orange-brown weathering grayish, and fissured with age |
| Foliage | Evergreen, flattened sprays with short, scale-like bright green leaves |
| Aromatic Wood | Yes, resistant to insects, decay, and diseases |
| Uses | Pencils, window sashes, siding, fencing, interior paneling, chests, and ornamental purposes |
| Ecological Conditions | Tolerates drought, direct sunlight, moist soil, cool environments, and poor soils |
| Associated Trees | Lodgepole pine, oaks, ponderosa pine, and giant sequoia |
| Bird Species | Chickadees, Stellar's jays, and various birds in the Western Sierra Nevada of California |
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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 found in the US states of Oregon, California, and Nevada, as well as in northwestern Mexico in Baja California. The tree is known for its aromatic wood, which is resistant to insects and decay. It has a thick bark that is fire-resistant, allowing the tree to tolerate surface fires.
The incense cedar 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 and smooth when the tree is young, but it becomes fissured and peels in long strips as the tree ages. The foliage is produced in flattened sprays with short, scale-like leaves that are bright green on both sides of the shoots. The tree is easy to grow in a garden but requires plenty of room. It grows up to 150 feet tall and often has a perfectly pyramidal shape when young, becoming twisted and rumpled as it matures.
The incense cedar is well-adapted to a variety of ecological conditions. It grows as a riparian tree or in other high-moisture environments, but it is more commonly found in dry sites, where it is rarely a dominant species. It is drought-tolerant and can close its leaf pores to prevent water loss. It also has a good shade tolerance, allowing it to grow well even in the shade of larger trees. The incense cedar grows in mixed conifer forests in the foothills and mid-elevations and is found on a variety of substrates from serpentine to granitic soils.
The wood of the incense cedar has a distinctive fragrance and has been used in a variety of applications. It is perhaps best known for its use in making pencils, as the wood is soft and easy to sharpen without splintering. It has also been used for window sashes, exterior siding, fencing, paneling, and other purposes. The leaves of the incense cedar were also used by Native Americans for medicinal and culinary purposes.
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The tree is resistant to insects, decay and drought
The incense cedar tree (Calocedrus decurrens) is resistant to insects, decay, and drought. The aromatic wood of the incense cedar is resistant to many insects and diseases. The tree's thick bark is fire-resistant, allowing older trees to survive surface fires. However, the heartwood of mature trees can become infested with pocket dry rot, caused by a pathogen that is not repelled by the aromatic wood.
Incense cedars are well-adapted to drought conditions and extreme temperatures. They can close their leaf pores (stomata) to prevent water loss, making them highly drought-tolerant. This characteristic has given them a competitive advantage over other tree species in recent years.
The incense cedar is native to parts of Oregon and California and thrives in the dry summers of these regions. However, it is also adaptable to wetter and more humid conditions. In Oregon, it is commonly found on the east slopes of Mount Hood, in the Cascade Mountains, and through the Sierra Nevada of California to Baja, Mexico.
The incense cedar tree can grow up to 150 feet tall and has a trunk diameter of up to 10 feet. Its foliage is produced in flattened sprays with short, scale-like bright green leaves. The bark is initially smooth and orange-brown but becomes fissured and peels in long strips as the tree ages. The incense cedar is known for its fragrant wood, which is used in a variety of applications, including pencils, window sashes, and fencing.
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It is used to make pencils, chests, and siding
The incense cedar is used to make a variety of products, including pencils, chests, and siding. The tree is native to western North America, with most of its range in the United States, from central-southwestern Oregon through California and the west of Nevada, and a small part in northwest Mexico. It is a large tree, with a trunk diameter of up to 10 feet and a broad conic crown. The bark is thick, pinkish-orange, and fire-resistant, allowing the tree to tolerate surface fires.
The wood of the incense cedar is aromatic, insect-repelling, and resistant to decay, making it ideal for a variety of applications. Its soft and pliable nature makes it perfect for pencil manufacturing, as it sharpens easily without splintering. The straight grain of the wood also contributes to its suitability for pencils.
Incense cedar is also used to craft chests, as its aroma and workability make it a popular choice for repelling insects. The wood is fine-grained and easily worked, which further adds to its appeal for this purpose.
Additionally, incense cedar is utilized in the creation of siding, window sashes, fencing, and interior paneling. Its resistance to decay and insects, coupled with its aromatic properties, make it a preferred material for exterior applications such as siding and fencing.
Beyond these applications, the incense cedar has been employed in a multitude of other ways. It has been used for window sashes, trellises, decking, and even shoe trees. The Native Americans also utilized various parts of the tree, including the leaves and bark, for medicinal and practical purposes.
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The bark is thick, pinkish-orange, and spongy
The bark of the incense cedar is quite remarkable. Thick, pinkish-orange, and spongy, it is one of the key features that make the incense cedar one of the most fire- and drought-tolerant plants in California. The bark is fire-resistant, allowing older trees to survive surface fires. This has given the incense cedar a competitive advantage over other tree species in recent years.
The colour of the bark is a beautiful pinkish-orange, which weathers to a grayish tone as the tree ages. The bark is initially smooth, but over time, it becomes fissured and peels in long strips, particularly on the lower trunk of older trees. This unique bark has a spongy texture, which is quite different from the smooth and sleek bark of other tree species.
The thick bark of the incense cedar provides protection from fires, but it is also resistant to insects and decay. The aromatic compound found in the bark, known as libo, repels insects and leaves a pleasant fragrance. This fragrance is what gives pencils made from incense cedar their distinctive smell. The soft, pliable, and easily worked nature of the wood makes it ideal for producing pencils, as well as other items such as window sashes, exterior siding, and fencing.
The incense cedar's ability to regenerate and adapt to a variety of ecological conditions, including drought and extreme temperatures, is another testament to its resilience. This tree species can close its leaf pores to prevent water loss, ensuring its survival in dry conditions. The incense cedar is a true survivor, with a unique and fascinating bark that contributes to its longevity and resilience.
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It is well-adapted to a variety of ecological conditions
Incense cedar is a species of conifer native to western North America, specifically the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, California, Nevada, and northern Baja California in Mexico. It is well-adapted to a variety of ecological conditions and is known for its ability to tolerate drought and extreme temperatures.
While the incense cedar prefers direct sunlight, moist soil, and a cool environment, it can also thrive in drier conditions. It is often found on dry sites, where it can grow alongside other pine trees such as lodgepole pine. The incense cedar is well-suited to the warm, dry summers and relatively wet, mild winters of southwest Oregon. It grows at altitudes of 50 to 2,900 meters (160 to 9,500 feet) and can be found in mixed conifer forests in the foothills and mid-elevations.
The incense cedar has a thick, fire-resistant bark that allows older trees to survive surface fires. It is also resistant to many insects and diseases due to its aromatic wood. However, as the tree matures, its heartwood can become susceptible to pocket dry rot, caused by a pathogen that enters through fire scars.
The incense cedar is a prolific seeder and has a high shade tolerance, allowing it to grow well even in the shade of larger trees. It can stand summer heat, requires little water, and tolerates poor soils. It is easy to grow in gardens but requires ample space due to its large size. The incense cedar can grow up to 150 feet tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 10 feet and a broad conic crown of spreading branches.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense cedar, or Calocedrus decurrens, is a species of conifer native to western North America.
Incense cedar has a fragrant and spicy aroma.
The aromatic and soft wood of the incense cedar is resistant to decay and insects, making it ideal for pencil manufacturing. It is also used for window sashes, exterior siding, fencing, and interior paneling.
Incense cedar is native to parts of Oregon and California in the United States and can be found in northwestern Mexico. It typically grows in mixed conifer forests in the foothills and mid-elevations, ranging from 50 to 2,900 meters (160 to 9,500 feet).
The term "incense cedar" is a bit of a misnomer as the only true cedars are found in the Mediterranean and Himalayas. However, it is commonly referred to as incense cedar due to its fragrant wood.
