What is an evergreen?

An evergreen is a plant that retains its green color throughout the year, in contrast to deciduous plants that lose their leaves in the winter or dry season. Evergreen plants include most conifer species, oak, holly, cycads and most angiosperms from frost-free climates such as eucalyptus and rain forest tree species.

Cedar of Lebanon is one of the common species of cedar found in the US.

Cedrus, Common name: Cedar

Cedar is a coniferous tree in the family Pinaceae. Cedar is native to the mountains of the Western Himalayans and the Mediterranean. There are five taxa of cedar species and all are adapted to temperate climates. The trees can grow to 60 meter heights and have broad branches that support thick masses of evergreen needles. The needles can range from a very pale blue-green to bright grass-green to dark green. The seed cones are barrel shaped, about 6-12 cm long and 3-8 cm wide. At maturity, they disintegrate to release winged seeds. The seeds are 10-15 mm long with a 20-30 mm wing. The cones are produced in late summer and produce pollen in the autumn, maturing the following year.

Cedar is a spicy-resinous scented wood and the wood and oil are commonly used by humans. Both the wood and oil have been traditionally used as chest dressers for wool clothing. Cedar wood is known to be a natural repellent against moths and resistant to decay and has been a popular choice for furniture making because of these properties.

Collecting Seed:

Seeds can be purchased through a seed company or at a nursery. Collecting your own seed from the wild is also fairly easy. Collect ripe cones from the trees. To do this you might need a step ladder. Coniferous trees vary in their ripe period but typically cedar species cones are ripe from August-October. Ripe cones will generally be brown or purplish and the seeds will be full, plump and white, but not milky.

To sterilize the seeds, create a solution of 1 tablespoon household bleach and 1 liter of water. Allow the seeds to soak in the solution for 15 minutes. Next, you will want to dry the cones. You can spread them out in the sunlight on a flat surface until the scales open. You can also place them in an oven or use some other artificial heat source below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Next you will want to separate the seeds from the cones. To do this, you can place the cones half full in a box and shake vigorously so that the seeds will fall to the bottom.

A ripe Atlas Cedar cone (www.fineartamerica.com)

The parts of a cedar cone and seeds (oregonstate.edu)

Seed Preparation:

Cedar seeds often need to undergo a period of stratification for germination. This is a cold treatment that the seed requires in order to activate the metabolic processes that initiate germination. An easy way to do this at home is to place the seeds in a potting container with a potting soil media and cover the container. Keep the container in a fairly warm environment and out of direct sunlight. After 3-4 days, transfer the container to a refrigerator for about ten weeks. During this time, be sure to periodically shake the container to keep the potting media aerated and routinely check if the seeds have started germinating. You can also soak peat moss in water, squeeze any excess water and place the seeds surrounded by the moist peat moss in an enclosed plastic bag. Place the the bag inside of the refrigerator until you notice the seeds beginning to germinate. Once you see signs of germination, remove the seeds immediately. After ten weeks if the seeds have not germinated, repeat the process; some seeds require a second chilling period to catalyze germination.

Planting Seeds:

Now that your seeds have undergone the necessary chilling period and are in the proper physiological state, it is time to start planting! The best time to sow cedar seeds is in the early spring so that they have an entire growing season to develop before the onset of winter. Temperatures between 60-75 degrees are adequate.

First, acquire a potting container and soil media. The container should be longer than it is to wide to promote the growth of long and straight roots. You can use individual pots or cells or a tray. A proper soil media should be light and aerated. A loamy sand or sandy loam are optimal media for cedar species.  A mixture or peat moss and vermiculite can also be used. Next, we can sow the seeds! Simply push the seeds into the soil media to about a half inch depth or place on top and cover lightly with soil media. Make sure that you do not plant the seeds too deep! Keep about 4-6 inches distance between each seed to allow space for root development.

Cover the containers with a plastic bag and store them in an area that is out of direct sunlight. In approximately 14-42 days, the seeds should germinate. At this point, as long as the time of the season is right and there are no risks of thawing, the seedlings can be transported outdoors. Until they are further established, keep them in a protected area or greenhouse structure. As always, be sure to keep the plants well-watered. Fertilizers are generally not needed for the establishment of cedar plants, however, cedar species are particularly susceptible to damping off, a fungal disease. A light fungicidal spray can be used to minimize the potential for damping off infection.

Red cedar seedlings in pots

A simple cold frame such as this one is ideal for protecting young seedlings (www.frugalupstate.com)

Post Care:

After they plants have sufficiently hardened off in a protected area outside, they can be transplanted into the field. This may take several years. Cedars grow fairly slow and it is typically recommended to keep an eye on the saplings for atleast the first 3-4 years. It may be necessary to protect them from harsh winds or snow. When they are ready for planting, choose a location that receives good sunlight with enough space to accommodate the mature tree. Cedar trees can grow to be 60 meters high so be sure to consider this when picking a transplanting location. Cedars do best in areas that receive above average rainfall and are within 20 feet of a stream or river.

Works Cited:

Geoff, Bryant. Plant Propagation A to Z. 1st ed. Buffalo: Firefly Books, 2003. Print.

Brener, William H., and Gordon R. Cunningham. “Collecting and Planting Seeds of Cone-bearing Trees.” Extension Service. University of Wisconsin. Web. <http://learningstore.uwex.edu/assets/pdfs/G1649.pdf>.

Hartmann, Hudson T. and Dale E. Kester. Plant Propagation Principles and Practices, 7 ed. 2002.