Incense Cedar
Calocedrus decurrens
A handsome, drought-tolerant western conifer with rich red-brown fibrous bark, flattened aromatic sprays, and a dense columnar form that makes an excellent screen. Its soft, fragrant, rot-resistant wood is the traditional material for wooden pencils; tough and clean in cultivation, it tolerates heat and drought well.
Field reference
Family
Cupressaceae
Growth rate
Slow
Mature size
40–60 ft tall (to 150 ft wild), 10–15 ft spread
Hardiness zone
5–8
Soil preference
Well-drained soils; notably drought-tolerant once established
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Pruning window
Late dormant season; tolerates light shearing
Wood properties
Light, soft, aromatic, very decay-resistant wood (~0.37 SG) — the classic pencil wood and a shingle/siding timber. Light limbs; fragrant when cut.
Native range
Mountains of the western United States, Oregon through California into western Nevada and Baja
Green weight
45 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Common questions
Is incense cedar a true cedar?
No — like most North American 'cedars' it is in the cypress family (Calocedrus), not a true cedar (Cedrus). The name comes from its fragrant, aromatic foliage and wood.
Is incense cedar drought-tolerant?
Yes — once established it is notably tolerant of heat and dry soils, more so than many conifers, which makes it a durable screen or specimen in Western landscapes with hot summers.
Related species in Cupressaceae
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