Incense-Cedar

Incense cedar is a long-lived conifer native to montane forests of California, Oregon, Nevada, and into Baja California. It can grow up to 120 feet tall, but is slow-growing and frequently planted in landscapes for its attractive shape. It has reddish-brown, furrowed bark and flattened sprays of scale-like, aromatic leaves that release a distinctive incense-like fragrance when crushed. In late summer, it produces small, duckbill-shaped cones that split open to release winged seeds eaten by birds and small mammals. Ecologically, incense cedar provides valuable cover and nesting habitat for wildlife and is an important component of mixed-conifer forests. Its sweet-smelling, rot-resistant wood is widely used for fencing, shingles, and pencils, adding economic importance to its ecological role. It is slower-growing and more drought-tolerant than Western red cedar, making it a resilient option for our area.