The common name “cedar” is applied to a wide variety of coniferous trees, many of which are not botanically related to the true cedars. This confusion stems from the fact that many of these trees possess a fragrant, durable wood that repels insects, a highly valued trait. Only four species belong to the genus Cedrus, which are the true cedars, native primarily to the Mediterranean and Himalayan regions. Correctly identifying a cedar tree involves examining its unique structures, particularly its foliage, cones, and bark, to determine whether it belongs to the Cedrus genus or one of the many “false cedar” groups.
The Critical Difference: Needles and Scales
The most reliable feature for distinguishing a true cedar from a false cedar lies in its foliage structure. True cedars (Cedrus) bear short, stiff, evergreen needles, typically one to two inches long, arranged in dense clusters, or rosettes, on stout, woody pegs called spur shoots. Needles produced on the current year’s new, long shoots are arranged singly and spirally along the stem.
This clustered needle arrangement contrasts sharply with the foliage of most false cedars, which belong to the cypress family (Cupressaceae) and include genera like Thuja, Chamaecyparis, and Juniperus. Instead of needles, these false cedars have tiny, flattened, overlapping leaves known as scales. These scale-like leaves create flattened, fan-like sprays of foliage, giving the branches a distinct, almost fern-like appearance.
Some false cedars, such as the Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), may exhibit prickly, juvenile needle-like leaves. However, these are typically small and grow singly or in pairs, not in the dense clusters seen on true cedars. The aromatic oils contained within the foliage of true cedars contribute to their distinctive, pleasant fragrance.
Decoding the Cones and Seed Structures
The cones of true and false cedars present another clear point of separation. True cedars produce female cones that are large, barrel-shaped, and substantial, often measuring between two and five inches in length. A defining feature is their orientation; they sit rigidly upright on the branches like candles.
These large cones do not drop whole when mature but instead disintegrate while still attached to the branch, scattering their winged seeds and leaving behind a persistent central spike. Cone maturation typically takes two to three years. Male cones, which release pollen, are smaller, solitary, and erect.
In contrast, the cones of false cedars are consistently much smaller, often less than one inch long, and vary widely in shape. Trees in the Thuja and Chamaecyparis genera produce small, woody cones that are often flask-shaped or spherical and typically hang down. Junipers, such as the Eastern Red Cedar, have highly modified female cones that are small, fleshy, and resemble blue or purple berries.
Bark Texture and Overall Tree Shape
Beyond foliage and cones, the bark texture and the overall growth habit of the tree provide additional clues for identification. True cedars are massive trees that can easily exceed 100 feet in height when mature. When young, they tend to have a pyramidal shape, but as they age, they often develop a characteristic broad, flat-topped crown with wide-spreading, horizontally tiered branches.
The bark of mature true cedars is generally dark brown or silvery-gray, and it develops deep furrows and scales as the tree ages. The Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara) is often distinguishable by its drooping branch tips and a noticeably pendulous central leader when young.
False cedars, while also capable of reaching great heights, often exhibit bark that is noticeably different, frequently described as reddish, fibrous, and stringy, often peeling off in vertical strips. The Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), for instance, has reddish-brown bark that comes off in long, stringy strips. The overall form of false cedars is also more variable, ranging from narrow, columnar shapes to dense, upright forms.
Separating True Cedars from False Cedars
The distinction between a true cedar (Cedrus) and a false cedar is primarily taxonomic, as most common “cedars” encountered in North America are false cedars. If a tree possesses leaves that are small, overlapping scales that form flattened sprays, it is almost certainly a false cedar, belonging to genera like Thuja, Chamaecyparis, or Calocedrus. Examples include the Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) and the Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens).
If the tree features needle-like foliage, but its cones are small, blue, and resemble berries, it is an Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), which is botanically a juniper. If the tree displays short, stiff needles clustered on woody spurs, and has large, barrel-shaped cones that sit upright and disintegrate upon maturity, it is a true cedar. True Cedrus species, such as the Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) or the Deodar Cedar, are native to the Old World and are grown in North America primarily as ornamental trees.