What are those big trees?

Adalberto Garcilaza at our Sloat Blvd location poses with the cedars set in a display.

The large trees in 24” boxes currently residing at our Sloat Boulevard location are cedars. They are between 16 and 19 years old from Woodburn, Oregon. They have been field-grown and were transplanted 2-3 times to prune the roots before their final move three years ago into the boxes.

They love living in the Pacific Northwest but will also do well in a Mediterranean style garden. They need deep well-draining soil, full sun and moderate water the first several seasons. They are drought-tolerant when established.

These awesome specimens are grown from grafts; and include Cedrus atlanctica ‘Pendula Glauca’ which is grafted onto regular Cedrus atlantica rootstock, as well as a stunning Cedrus ‘Aurea’ with golden foliage. There are several trained in the serpentine form but the natural growth habit for the ‘Pendula Glauca’ is to grow out and down. The grower tells us they have to keep training them to grow up or they will be VERY big and wide! They make an amazing espalier. We met somone whose grandparents planted one in the 1960’s against their fence in Mt. Vernon, Washington. It is still living and is 4’ tall and 60 feet wide.

These lovely conifers are closely related to Cedrus deodara, our own California Christmas tree. They are not pines, so have none of the problems that plague pines. Their smaller blue needles give the tree a softer appearance. The blue foliage and interesting shape make a stunning focal point. They also look gorgeous alongside phormiums, cordylines and blue fescues.