Cedrus deodara - Lockerly Arboretum

Volume 2, Issue 9
March 28, 2011
Cedrus deodara
Conifers at Lockerly, Part II
Table of Contents
Cedrus
deodara
pg. 1
The Deodar Cedar is a native of the
Himalayas and has been grown in southern
Where’s the Pond?
landscapes since the 1830’s. It is a graceful ever
pg. 2
green conifer that can reach 50 ft. tall or more in
cultivation. Its habit is loosely pyramidal with a
What’s Flowering?
drooping central leader, horizontal branching
pg. 2
pattern, and pendulous branch tips. The softtextured needles have a distinctly bluish cast.
Deodar Cedar grows rapidly in youth and becomes
more flat-topped as it matures. It is not coldhardy north of zone 7, but it does exhibit good heat
tolerance, so it is a good choice for the
Southeastern U.S.
Deodars have performed well in the Lockerly Arboretum Conifer
Reference Garden, and there is an old specimen in front of Lockerly Hall
that was probably planted in 1928. A total of four Deodars, 3 to 4 ft. tall,
were purchased by the Hatcher family that year for $3.50 each. Perhaps the
best old Deodar in Milledgeville is one in front of Ennis Hall on Hancock
Street. Occasionally a Deodar will survive for many years and age gracefully, but many do not. Many fine old Deodars were severely damaged by
the devastating freezes of the 1980’s, resulting in die-back of the central
leader and subsequent decline. Our own old Deodar, like many others, has
suffered this die-back of the top and it has seen better days. Michael Dirr
states that “the end user should be cognizant that 10 to 20 years may
represent the species’ useful garden life.” That being said, it’s still a great
conifer for southern landscapes, and there are many great new cultivars
available.
One of the best performing cultivars is ‘Bracken’s Best Cedar’,
commonly referred to as ‘BBC’. This cultivar is vigorous and has excellent
form and color. It is also said to be the most cold hardy cultivar available.
There are weeping forms, dwarf forms, and golden forms available. Some other good choices are ‘Bill’s Blue’, ‘Blue Ice’,
and ‘Montana Verdae’. Good dwarf forms are ‘Prostrate Beauty’ and ‘Pigmaea’.
Deodar Cedars do best in full sun, and they need plenty of room to grow. They are considered drought
tolerant, but the best growth occurs when they are supplied with consistent moisture. These handsome trees have
been among the very best performers in our Conifer Reference Garden, and they can add elegant texture, form,
and color to southern landscapes.
Where’s the Pond?
Lockerly’s pond is a central feature of the
arboretum landscape and a valuable teaching resource.
Constructed in 1975, the pond impounds water that
drains the Lockerly property as it moves west to east,
toward the Oconee River. The pond features a small
island and two bridges, with numerous plantings
surrounding the area. On Monday, March 14, the
Lockerly staff was distressed to find that the pond was
rapidly emptying through a breech beneath the dam. A
corroded overflow drain had rusted through at the base
of the dam, and water rushed out for
several days. The pond is now virtually dry
and the water feature is sorely missed. We
hope to have it repaired next week. This
sort of disaster does present opportunities,
however, and we intend to make some
improvements to the area while the water is
down and access is improved.
What’s Flowering at Lockerly?
Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)
Trillium catesbaei (Rose Trillium)
Trillium cuneatum (Toadshade)
Oxalis triangularis (Purple Shamrock)
Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' (False Soloman's Seal)
Photinia serrulata (Chinese Photinia)
Verbena 'Homestead Purple' (Clump Verbena)
Wisteria floribunda (Japanese Wisteria)
Cercis canadensis (Redbud)
Viburnum macrocephalum (Snowball Viburnum)
Viburnum x carlcephalum (Fragrant Viburnum)
Rhododendron (various)
Viburnum utile 'Chesapeake' (Chesapeake Viburnum)
Verbena canadensis (Rose Vervain)
Viburnum tinus (Laurustinus)
Lobularia maritima (Sweet Alyssum)
Viburnum x burkwoodii (Burkwood Viburnum)
Crataequs viridis ‘Winter King’ (Hawthorn)
Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula' (Weeping Cherry)
Ipheon uniflorum (Spring Starflower)
Veronica peduncularis 'Georgia Blue' (Creeping Speedwell)
Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' (Creeping Phlox)
Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)
Camellia japonica (Japanese Camellia)
Diascia integerrima (Twinspur)
Prunus caroliniana (Carolina Cherry Laurel)
Prunus x yedoensis (Yoshino Cherry)
Viola x wittrockiana (Pansy)
Viburnum obovatum (Small Viburnum)
Illicium floridanum (Florida Anise)
Amelanchier x grandiflora (Service Berry)
Loropetalum chinense (Chinese Fringe Flower)
Chrysogonum virginianum (Green and Gold)
Leucothoe axilaris 'Margie Jenkins' (Coast Leucothoe)
Halesia carolina (Carolina Silverbells)