Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica Horstmanns Silberspitz - Blue Atlas Cedar

The Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica 'Horstmanns Silberspitz' is a German introduction from the early '90s by Horstmann nurseries, cultivated for its narrower shape and the original colour of its evergreen foliage. It is a modest-sized, upright and narrow conifer with slow growth, making it suitable for planting in medium to large gardens. It has new shoots with short and stiff cream-silver needles that stand out beautifully against its blue-green background. In autumn, the young needles turn golden yellow. Plant it in full sun in deep, preferably rich and moist soil. However, it can tolerate drier and poorer soils once established.

The Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica, better known as the Atlas cedar, blue cedar or silver cedar, is considered a subspecies of the Lebanese Cedar. It is a majestic conifer native to the Atlas Mountains, which extend through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. This imposing conifer has a tabular habit at maturity and a more slender silhouette than its cousin, the Lebanese Cedar. It has an excellent longevity. It differs from other cedars with its upright branches and short, non-prickly needles.

The 'Horstmanns Silberspitz' cultivar stands out mainly for its young cream-white foliage with silver highlights, which contrasts beautifully with its mature blue-green needles, as well as for its reduced and narrower growth. 'Silberspitz' means 'silver tip' in German, referring to this atypical colouration. At maturity, it rarely exceeds 8 m (26 ft 2 in) in height and 5 m (16 ft 5 in) in width. This tree has a straight and wide trunk that divides into large slightly upright branches. The bark, initially grey and smooth in young specimens, becomes rougher over the years when it peels off in small scales. The secondary branches are upright and pubescent when young. They bear abundant foliage in clusters of cream-silver needles when they emerge, turning blue-green. Its new shoots in autumn take on shades of golden yellow, adding to its decorative appeal in winter. Flowering occurs in early autumn. Each individual bears cylindrical female cones, flattened at the top, measuring 5 to 7 cm (2 to 2.8 in) in length and green in colour, turning brown-purple. The male catkins are conical and brown. The seeds take 3 years to mature. They are nestled between the scales of the female cones and comprise a 2 cm (0.8 in) long wing.

The Atlas blue Cedar deserves a prominent place in the garden. This majestic, medium-sized conifer requires isolation to fully appreciate its beautiful silhouette and exceptional foliage. In a very large garden, several trees can be planted along a pathway. This pathway will then take on a whole new dimension, with an elegant and romantic style. Space the trees sufficiently so that they do not interfere with one another later on. It is worth noting that this tree is not only very hardy, but also capable of growing in difficult, rocky, and dry summer soils. The Atlas Cedar also thrives well in container cultivation.