Calocedrus decurrens aka California Incense Cedar

Calocedrus decurrens, also known as incense cedar or California incense cedar, is a large coniferous tree native to western North America. Its range extends from central western Oregon through most of California and the extreme west of Nevada, with some presence in northern Baja California in northwest Mexico. Growing at altitudes of 50-2900 meters, this species is the most widely known in the genus and is often referred to as Incense-cedar without a regional qualifier. Incense cedar trees typically reach heights of 40-60 meters, with a maximum height of 69 meters and a trunk diameter of up to 3 meters. The bark is orange-brown in color, weathering to a grayish hue, and is smooth at first before becoming fissured and exfoliating in long strips on the lower trunk of mature trees. The foliage consists of flattened sprays with scale-like leaves ranging from 2-15 millimeters in length. The leaves are arranged in opposite decussate pairs, with the successive pairs closely then distantly spaced, forming apparent whorls of four. The facial pairs are flat, with the lateral pairs folded over their bases. The bright green leaves have only inconspicuous stomata. In addition to its interesting exfoliating gray-brown bark, incense cedar produces showy male and female cones. The male cones are yellow, while the female cones are cylindrical and ripen in late summer at lower elevations and a month later at higher elevations. This species prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil and is easy to grow in the garden, but requires plenty of space. If given deep, infrequent watering when young, it can develop drought tolerance.