Credit: David Foley
Cedrus atlantica
Background and story
The Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’) is a striking cultivated form of the Atlas cedar, native in origin to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa.
The species has been grown in Ireland and Britain since the 19th century, while this unusual weeping form arose later in horticulture as a selected variant.
Unlike the upright, stately habit of the typical species, ‘Glauca Pendula’ produces arching, cascading branches clothed in glaucous blue-grey needles, creating a highly sculptural and often dramatic effect.
Each specimen develops its own character depending on how it is trained, making it as much a design element as a tree.
Did you know?
Cedrus is the true cedar genus; atlantica refers to the Atlas Mountains; Glauca means bluish or grey-green; and Pendula means hanging or weeping. So the name is almost a description: a blue, weeping Atlas cedar.
Hardiness and conservation
The recorded RHS hardiness rating is H6, which means this plant is very hardy and suited to colder UK, Irish and northern European conditions. The recorded USDA/PFAF hardiness value is 7-9, which is useful as a broad winter-temperature guide, but it should not be read as a direct substitute for the RHS rating. Local hardiness always depends on local shelter, drainage, winter wet, salt-laden wind and the plant’s age and establishment.
The IUCN Red List status recorded here is Endangered (EN). This places it in a threatened category, with a very high risk of extinction in the wild. The assessment year recorded in the plant data is 2013.
Additional notes for Ireland and Britain
In Ireland and Britain, Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’ is fully hardy and adaptable, thriving in well-drained soils and sunny positions. It is often trained or staked when young to develop height, after which it may form a flowing, irregular shape or spread along the ground, depending on management. Growth is moderate, and it may reach 4–10 metres or more in height over time, though form varies widely. It tolerates wind and a range of soil types better than many ornamentals, but benefits from space to display its natural habit. It is best used as a feature specimen where its form can be appreciated from multiple angles.
From a conservation and hardiness perspective, the parent species Cedrus atlantica is classified as Endangered in the wild, largely due to deforestation, grazing, and climate pressures in its native range. The cultivar ‘Glauca Pendula’ exists entirely in cultivation and therefore carries no direct conservation risk, though it represents a horticultural legacy of a species under pressure. In terms of hardiness, it is very robust, tolerating cold winters, wind, and typical Irish rainfall, provided soil drainage is good. Its main limitation is not climate but space and design suitability. In an Irish context, it offers a dependable yet highly expressive specimen tree, combining resilience with strong visual impact.
Notable features
- Cedrus atlantica belongs to the pine family, Pinaceae. That matters because many plants called “cedar” in English are not true cedars at all, such as western red cedar, Thuja plicata.
- The species Cedrus atlantica is native to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa. The weeping blue form, however, is a cultivated selection grown for its blue-grey foliage and pendulous habit rather than a naturally typical wild tree form.
- Unlike many trees with a predictable outline, ‘Glauca Pendula’ can be staked, tied, arched or allowed to sprawl. RHS specifically notes that it “can be staked or trained to the required shape”. This means two plants of the same cultivar can look completely different: one may become a small weeping tree, another a serpentine feature, and another almost a living sculpture.
- The straight species Cedrus atlantica can become a large tree, but RHS gives ‘Glauca Pendula’ an ultimate height of about 4–8 metres, making it more suitable as a dramatic garden specimen where space allows.
- The blue-green needles give year-round colour, especially useful in winter, while the weeping branches create strong shadow and structure even when nearby deciduous trees are bare. RHS describes it as evergreen with dense, vertically hanging branches and glaucous blue-green foliage.
Earlscliffe notes
The plant at Earlscliffe was planted in the early 1908s and was staked in various places. Over time the stakes have mostly rotted or fell over as the tree is now strong enough to take its own weight.
Where to see it in the garden
Tour Area ❹Gallery
Credit: David Foley