blue atlas cedar

Tree species: aromatic Cedar

Color: sapwood whitish, heartwood light brown to slightly reddish-honey-brown, similar to Douglas fir and pine

Hardness: rather soft

Characteristics: aromatic ("anti-moth wood"), warm appearing beautiful noble coniferous wood

Heartwood formation: yes the cedar is a true heartwood tree

Psychological correspondence: According to the Celtic tree circle, people born under the sign of the cedar are particularly persevering and patient, adaptable and foresighted, self-confident and independent, self-willed and visionary, optimistic and courageous. They are tolerant individualists, successful strategists and choosy about their relationships. If they do not find their great love, they prefer to go through life alone. The cedar was already valued by the Egyptians and is often quoted in the Bible. In the Siberian taiga, trees are especially revered because they are considered informants of light energy and social beings that help people find their natural order. They encourage us to just be ourselves, have a grounding and centering effect. They are believed to be closely connected to the world of emotions and senses, promoting cognition and serving to further development. They activate the self-healing powers, strengthen the connection to the divine and are also suitable for terminal care. 

Properties / Uses: in the past (ancient times) the cedar was an extremely coveted wood that was overexploited almost to extinction. The versatile wood was considered the building material of kings in ancient times. It was coveted for the construction of ships, temples, throne chairs and chests. Today, the true cedars, with their Asian-oriental appearance, are mainly ornamental woods (especially the blue Atlas cedar, which comes from North Africa, and the hanging cedar) for gardens, parks and bonsai cultivations. The oil was formerly used to impregnate wood and paper. Today it is an important raw material for perfume and wellness products.

Value/availability: rare, rather valuable

Pruning time in arboriculture: in summer (from about May to August), after full leaf sprouting

Sealing behavior: good

Pruning and wound closure: according to current guideline ZTV Baumpflege, before branch ring up to (as far as possible) max. 10 cm diameter, no wound closure (as ineffective).

Sources of the information:

• My own experience/knowledge and documents from my wood economics studies at the Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences.
• Native timber (loose-leaf collection) Authors D. Grosser and W. Teetz. CMA, Bonn-publisher -Holzabsatzfonds-Bonn 1998
• Book Volker Drolshagen/Karin Hoffmann: The Language of Trees (1997)
• Website https://www.everyday-feng-shui.de