Side by side
Deodar or cedar of Lebanon? How to tell them apart
Cedrus deodara · Cedrus libani
How to tell them apart – deodar: long, soft needles and drooping branch tips; cedar of Lebanon: shorter, stiff needles and flat, horizontal tiers.
How do you recognise them?
- Deodar
- Cedar with long, soft needles, gracefully drooping branch tips and a nodding leader.
- Compared with cedar of Lebanon: long, soft needles and drooping branch tips.
- Cedar of Lebanon
- Cedar with a broad, flat-topped crown and long, horizontal branches in flat tiers, like tables stacked one above the other.
- Compared with deodar: shorter, stiff needles and flat, horizontal tiers.
| Deodar | Cedar of Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Needles | Needles 2.5–5 cm, the longest of the cedars, fairly soft, green to grey-green; in tufts on short shoots and single on young shoots. Evergreen. | Needles 2–3 cm, stiff and sharp, dark green to grey-green; in tufts on short shoots and single on young shoots. Evergreen. |
| Flowering | – | – |
| Cones and seeds | Upright, barrel-shaped cones 7–12 cm long with a rounded tip, blue-green and bloomy when young. | Upright, barrel-shaped cones 8–12 cm long with a flattened tip, which break up on the tree. |
| Bark | Dark grey to brownish-black, cracked into small plates. | Dark grey, cracked into small, scaly plates. |
| Shape and height | Conifer, 20–35 m | Conifer, 20–35 m |
| Site | Full sun, any garden soil, normal | Full sun, any garden soil, dry |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, planted |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | – | – |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | August–September | August–September |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Deodar (20–35 m) and cedar of Lebanon (20–35 m) both grow into large trees: too big for an ordinary garden, but fine in a large garden, a park or a meadow.
Read on
- Plant profile: Deodar
- Plant profile: Cedar of Lebanon
- Deodar: when and how to prune
- Cedar of Lebanon: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.