Description
The species is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree and for the beauty of its hanging branches.
It is commonly grown in the Mediterranean region, around the Black Sea, in southern and central China, Texas and South Africa.
Its historical use for building religious temples and in landscaping around these temples is well known around the world.
Its wood is highly resistant and, due to its durability character, the demand as a building material is huge.
In Pakistan and India, during the British colonial period, deodar wood was used extensively for the construction of barracks, public buildings, bridges, canals and railroad cars. In Srinagar and Kashmir her resistance made her ideal for building the well-known houseboats.
Its oil, woody odor, is widely used in perfumery, soaps, cleaning products, floor polishing and insecticides (as insects avoid this tree, its oil is used as insect repellent in horses, cattle and camels).
The deodar tree is the national tree of pakistan.
A little of history….
Among Hindus, as the etymology of deodar suggests, it is worshiped as a divine tree. Deva, the first half of the Sanskrit name, means divine, divinity or god. Daru, its second part, connotes tree, wood.
Its Sanskrit name devadãru means “wood of the gods”, deva (god) and daru (wood).
To please Lord shiva, the sages had the habit of practicing meditation in the deodar forests; just as ancient Hindu texts mention these forests as a sacred place.
Below some photos, a short trip on how to use the species landscaped
Germination Guide
🌍 Western Himalayas - Afghanistan, Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan, India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand)
Moderate
Cedrus deodara, commonly known as Deodar or Himalayan Cedar, is a large evergreen coniferous tree native to the western Himalayas, valued for its graceful, drooping foliage and rot-resistant timber. Seeds require cold stratification to break dormancy; a short period of moist, cool conditions at 4°C for 14-30 days significantly improves germination rates and is essential for successful propagation. After pre-treatment, seeds germinate in 2-8 weeks when kept at optimal temperatures of 15-20°C in well-draining soil.
Germination
Germination time
Expect germination in
14 – 60 days
Temperature
Min 15°C
Ideal 18°C
Max 20°C
Substrate moisture
💧 Medium
Sowing depth
Lightly covered
Seed Pre-treatment
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💧
Soaking — 12 hours
Soak seeds in room temperature water for 12 hours. Cold stratification at 4°C for 14-30 days significantly improves germination rates compared to untreated seeds.
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🔨
Hot water scarification
Soak seeds in room temperature water for 12 hours before sowing to enhance water absorption.
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❄️
Cold stratification — 30 days at 4°C
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📋
Additional notes
Cold stratification in moist sand or peat moss at 4°C (39°F) for 30 days increases germination from 11% to approximately 45%. Stratification period can range from 2-4 weeks to 30-60 days depending on seed lot.
Substrate & Container
Recommended substrate
Well-draining seed mix, loamy or sandy soil. Half potting soil and half perlite or sand mixture recommended.
Recommended container
Seed trays, small pots, or containers with drainage holes. Cold frame recommended for initial germination.
Growing Tips
Sow seeds 3/4 inch deep, tamp the soil firmly, and mulch the seed bed. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during germination. After germination, maintain indirect light and provide good ventilation to prevent damping-off disease, which young seedlings are very prone to. Once stratification is complete and 10% of seeds have chitted, begin sowing. Keep seedlings in containers indoors for several years before transplanting outdoors. Use large-sized seeds when available, as they exhibit higher germination rates. After stratification, move seeds to room temperature (20-22°C) for final germination phase.
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