Calocedrus

plant genus

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June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The genus Calocedrus, commonly known as incense cedar, comprises evergreen conifers belonging to the cypress family (Cupressaceae). These trees are native to the western slopes of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges in North America. Incense cedars can grow quite tall, reaching 30 to 45 meters (100 to 150 feet) in height, with a straight trunk and reddish, furrowed bark. Their wood is aromatic, soft, and used for various purposes, including carpentry, pencils, and fence posts. The name "incense cedar" comes from the pleasant odor its leaves emit when bruised.12

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conifer
Annotated classification
…to as cedars (such as Calocedrus, Chamaecyparis, Libocedrus, and Thuja), have flattened sprays of frondlike branches closely covered with scale leaves; considerable diversity in both the Northern (18 genera) and Southern (11 genera) hemispheres; 50 or more species of junipers (Juniperus) are widespread, exceeding even the pines in their coverage…
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…to as cedars (such as Calocedrus, Chamaecyparis, Libocedrus, and Thuja), have flattened sprays of frondlike branches closely covered with scale leaves; considerable diversity in both the Northern (18 genera) and Southern (11 genera) hemispheres; 50 or more species of junipers (Juniperus) are widespread, exceeding even the pines in their coverage…
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