A coniferous evergreen native to the Himalayan mountain range, the deodar cedar is a large tree often seen outside of its native range as a garden ornamental. Its leaves are needles that range from bright green to glaucous blue and are somewhat sharp. Deodar cedars produce both male and female cones for reproduction, the female cones containing seeds in a barrel-like formation, and the smaller male cones containing pollen.
Its wood is durable and used for all manner of hard-wearing constructions, but it also has an important use as a part of Ayurvedic medicine; being used to create incense and essential oils for aromatherapy and medication that is thought to have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and pain-relieving properties. Deodar is derived from the Sanskrit compound word devadāru, meaning wood of the gods.
ALSO KNOWN AS: Himalayan Cedar, Deodar
FAMILY: Pinaceae
NATIVE STATUS: Non-Native
NATIVE RANGE: Himalayan Mountain Range – Central Asia
FOLIAGE: Evergreen
MAX. HEIGHT: 200 ft.
MAX. AGE: 1,000 yrs.
Stop #11 on the Congressional Tree Walk
