Cedar. Common name for the genus ­ Cedrus. An evergreen of Asian and North American origin that technically belongs to the Pine Family (Picaceae).

The name Cedar has also been applied to various plants and trees of other genera:

California Incense Cedar ­ Calocedrus decurrens

Canoe Cedar ­ Thuja plicata

Cigar Box Cedar, Spanish Cedar, West Indian Cedar ­ Cedrela odorata

Incense Cedar ­ Libocedrus

Japanese Cedar ­ Cryptomeria japonica

Red Cedar (Several species and sub-species of the genus ­ Juniperus

Stinking Cedar ­ Torreya taxifolia

White Cedar ­ Chamaecyparis thyoides, Tabebuia pallida, Thuja occidentalis

True Cedars:

Atlas Cedar ­ Cedrus atlantica

Cypress Cedar ­ Cedrus brevifolia

Deodar Cedar ­ Cedrus deodara

Cedar-of-Lebanon ­ Cedrus libani

The common field cedar grows all over the Midwest and upper south areas of the United States. It thrives where there is good drainage such as on a limestone base, full sun, and soil that would be considered less than ideal for most other plants and trees. Specimens can be seen growing along the highways from rocky out-crops and cliffs, and in rolling fields where drainage is adequate. They have a conical shape when young, but begin to spread to a more flat top shape as they mature.

Landowners will sometimes pay to have them removed, especially if there is to be construction or farming on land where the cedars are growing. Since there is value even in the younger trees that have a trunk of 3 1/2 or 4 inches in diameter as fence posts, profit can be made from both the removal of the trees and the sale of the posts. Cedar chips and wood shavings make a very good mulch and can be used in Potpourri and Sachets.

Cedars are generally slow growing. Young specimens can be sold to the general public because they make excellent wind-breaks and hedge-rows along property lines or garden edges.

Seeds of cedars can be gotten for free by picking off the berries from mature trees in late November. Plant them in the winter in a box of rich soil indoors. In the spring plant them directly in the ground or in nursery containers which will make them easier for transplanting and for selling.

Young cedar starts can also be grown in bonsai containers. They will need the same care as for any other outdoor bonsai specimen. Consult a good book on the subject of outdoor bonsai. These young seedlings will need frequent watering to keep them from drying out, good drainage and protection from too much sun. They will need heavy mulching in the winter to keep roots from freezing. After a few years of training and pruning, bonsai cedars can be very valuable depending on the artistry of the form. They will look more natural with some small limestone rocks and moss included in the planting.

Mature cedars can be sold to saw mills, veneer companies and some furniture companies. Cedar is used for outdoor deck and fence lumber and doesn't need to be treated. Cedar can be used to line the inside of closets because it retains a pleasant aroma and helps in repelling moths. Some companies that specialize in cedar wood products such as cedar chests will buy in larger quantities. Many acres of cedar are harvested annually for this industry alone.

It takes many years for cedar trees to mature, but they are like money in the bank. Grown on land that may be too rugged for farming, cedar trees can be hidden assets that can be harvested in future years. They require no care once established and can provide extra income for college education for the children or grandchildren or for supplemental retirement income.

For anyone who may possess the creativity and tools, scraps of cedar can be used in wood crafts. The raw cedar log scraps and the rough milled board scraps can be used to make birdhouses. The scraps of the smooth milled boards can be used to make all kinds of children's toys, including: little cars and trucks, doll houses and doll beds, rocking horses and chess and checker boards using alternating dark and light squares of wood. Patterns can sometimes be found in various wood crafts magazines. Instead of paint, these items look there best when sanded and then steel wooled to a fine finish. Tung Oil may be applied then steel wooled again after thoroughly dry.

Seeds of some of the species noted above are offered in the GreenDealer Seed Catalog.