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Blue Atlas Cedar Aftercare in the Pacific Northwest

Blue Atlas Cedar

Blue Atlas Cedar tree, Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca', mature specimen — species reference for Pacific Arboriculture homeowners in Auburn and the south Puget Sound.
Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'). Photo: Steph170, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cedrus_atlantica_Glauca.jpg
Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’
  • Striking silvery-blue needles that hold their color year-round
  • Stately pyramidal form when young, broadening with age
  • Pendulous and weeping cultivars available for sculptural placements
  • Drought-tolerant and adaptable to a range of soil conditions

Blue Atlas Cedar is one of the most striking large evergreens for the south Puget Sound — the silvery-blue needles glow in afternoon light and hold their color through every season. Young trees throw a tight pyramidal silhouette that broadens with age into a wide flat-topped specimen, often spanning 30 feet at maturity. Pendulous and weeping cultivars are popular as sculptural focal points beside front entries and water features.

Planting and Care

  1. Planting. Plant in full sun with well-drained soil. Blue Atlas Cedar resents wet feet — avoid low spots and heavy clay sites. Dig a wide planting hole, set the trunk flare at grade, backfill with native soil, water in deeply, and mulch with arborist wood chips kept off the trunk. Allow significant lateral space — mature trees easily span 30 feet wide.
  2. Watering. Deep weekly watering through the first two growing seasons. Once established, Blue Atlas Cedar is notably drought-tolerant and rarely needs supplemental water in the south Puget Sound.
  3. Fertilizing. Most established trees need no fertilization. A single light application of evergreen-specific slow-release fertilizer in early spring is acceptable in year two if growth is slow or foliage is dull.
  4. Pruning. Minimal pruning required. Light shaping of weeping cultivars in late spring or summer maintains the trained silhouette. The species type should not be heavily pruned — the natural form is the primary ornamental feature.

Blue Atlas Cedar performs exceptionally well in south Puget Sound landscapes with adequate drainage. Plant on slight rises rather than low spots in Auburn, Sumner, and Lake Tapps yards to avoid winter root rot.

Need a Pacific Arboriculture ISA Certified Arborist to look at the blue atlas cedar on the property?
Call (206) 909-2170 or request a free quote — Pacific Arboriculture provides residential and commercial tree services across Auburn, Kent, Renton, Tacoma, Federal Way, Puyallup, Sumner, Bonney Lake, Maple Valley, and the wider south Puget Sound.

Return to Conifers aftercare.

Blue Atlas Cedar Specs

Mature Height40–60 ft (species); 10–15 ft (most weeping cultivars)
Mature Width30–40 ft
SunlightFull Sun
Growth RateModerate
Botanical NameCedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’
Planting questions?
(206) 909-2170
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