Plant library · Conifers & Evergreens
Calocedrus decurrens
Incense cedar is a tall, aromatic evergreen conifer with dense foliage and cinnamon-toned bark. At about 50 feet tall and 15 feet wide, it creates a strong vertical presence rather than a low, spreading canopy. Its year-round foliage suits plans that need a lasting screen or a single structural tree, especially where a narrow upright silhouette is more useful than broad shade.
Give incense cedar a permanent position at the outer edge of a large bed, along a property boundary, or as a specimen with clear views of its trunk and lower branching. Its evergreen mass can define the back of a garden throughout the year. Keep it away from low sun-loving planting areas that would fall within its future shade, and leave a service route or open lawn strip beside the trunk for access as the tree enlarges.[1][2]
Space multiple trees 15 feet apart, center to center, for a continuous row with room for each mature crown. A 15-foot mature width means the planting line should also stand well back from fences, buildings, and paths; reserve at least half that width from the trunk to a fixed edge where possible. Do not treat a young, narrow plant as its finished footprint when laying out beds beneath or beside it.
Use a full-sun site with well-drained soil. Low-water planning is most appropriate after the tree has established; young trees benefit from deep, infrequent watering while their roots develop. Avoid assigning this tree to a tightly irrigated perennial border if its watering pattern will differ from the surrounding plants, and keep the root zone open rather than crowded with intensive planting.[1][2]
The dark green foliage holds through winter, so the tree continues to occupy visual space and cast shade when deciduous planting is bare. Flaking, furrowed bark becomes a stronger feature as the tree matures. Small cones add late-season detail and may remain on the tree into winter, making this a useful backdrop for beds that need off-season structure.[1][2]
Choose the initial site carefully, because incense cedar is difficult to transplant once established. In areas where pear rust is a concern, avoid placing it close to pear trees: incense cedar can serve as an alternate host in the disease cycle. This is a long-lived tree with a large mature presence, not a temporary filler for a narrow side bed.[1][3]
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.