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Devinely Blue Deodar Cedar

Cedrus deodara

Family: Pinaceae Unknown Shrub (3-15 ft)

Wider than it is tall, 'Devinely Blue' is a semi-dwarf evergreen cultivar in the Pinaceae (pine) family. The cultivar name is derived the from last name of Bill Devine, a plant propagator at Angelica Nurseries in Maryland, where this seedling was first discovered. Sometimes it is "misspelled" as 'Divinely Blue', which is the correct spelling of the word, but the incorrect spelling of his last name. When young, it takes on a mounding form with a flat top. As it ages, it will have a more conical or pyramidal shape. The growth rate is slow to medium, adding about 6 inches a year and reaching up to 5 feet in height and 6 feet in width after about 10 years. Plant in the full sun in well drained acidic soil. This plant prefers dry soils, and is quite drought tolerant so do not overwater. A somewhat sheltered location will benefit the overall performance of this beauty. It can be pruned to shape but will look its best when left in nature's hands. The needles are attractive and unique light blue-green and they surround branches with drooping tips. Its lower branches will sit near the ground surface, typically having a one-foot clearance. 'Divinely Blue' is resistant to verticillium wilt, browsing by deer, and is also toleartes the heat and. humidity of southern summers. Plant in a large container, along a lawn, or in a rock or drought tolerant garden. Use it as an accent plant, its fine textured needles look great behind other green plants. Those showy blue needles make also make it a great choice for winter interest in the landscape. Because of its short stature it can be planted under powerlines. Quick ID: All Cedrus genus members have new needles that are born singly on stems Needles are triangular to quadrangular in cross-section Female wood barrel-shaped cones sit on top of branches. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant cannot tolerate wet to poorly drained soils. More information on Cedrus deodara .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 43 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Cedrus deodara
Fills a similar niche Cupressus sempervirens Sinojackia rehderiana x Hesperotropsis leylandii 'Reco'

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Conical; Irregular; Spreading; Weeping
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf arrangement
Other/more complex
Leaf shape
Filiform
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The stiff, rigid, attractive foliage is unique, blue-green to powder blue. Longer needles than other species. New spring growth is a gray/green.
Flower detail
No flowers
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Fruit detail
Cone
Stem detail
Has a short, sturdy trunk.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Play value
Buffer; Textural
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Lawn; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Rock Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Hedge; Mass Planting; Specimen
Garden tags
#conifer #showy leaves #dry soils tolerant #drought tolerant #evergreen #dwarf #needled evergreen #needles #heat tolerant #groundcover #humidity tolerant #deer resistant #winter garden #erosion control #winter interest #year-round interest #dense growth #frost tolerant #disease resistant #wet soils intolerant #semi-dwarf #long lived #accent #compact
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Pests of Conifers
Resistant to
Deer; Diseases; Drought; Dry Soil; Heat; Humidity
Particularly resistant to
Verticillium wilt

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.