Cedar of Lebanon or Deodar cedar: how to tell them apart?
Cedar of Lebanon and Deodar cedar look alike and are often mixed up. Here is how to tell them apart, feature by feature, with their photos and the details to look for.
⚡ The quick answer
Cedar of Lebanon
Cedrus libani
Deodar cedar
Cedrus deodara
The deodar cedar has clearly drooping branchlets and leading shoot, whereas the cedar of Lebanon keeps stiff branches arranged in broad, very flat horizontal tiers.
🍃 Leaves
Short needles grouped in dense tufts on short shoots
Evergreen, fine supple needles in tufts, bluish green, longer than those of the Atlas cedar
🌸 Flowers
Upright male cones releasing a cloud of pollen in autumn
Upright male cones, releasing pollen in autumn
🍎 Fruits
Large, upright, barrel-shaped cones, breaking up on the tree
Upright, barrel-shaped female cones, breaking up on the tree when ripe
🪵 Bark
Grey to brown, fissured, characteristic tiered silhouette
Grey to dark brown, fissured into scales
📏 Size
25 to 40 m tall
25 to 40 m tall
🗺️ Habitat
Widely planted in parks and large gardens
Planted as a specimen tree in large parks for its characteristic weeping habit
⚠️ Toxicity
No known toxicity
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🔎 And from the Deodar cedar side
At maturity the cedar of Lebanon has stiff branches spreading in very flat horizontal tiers, whereas the deodar cedar has a supple habit, with branchlets and a leading shoot that clearly droop.
🌿 Go further
Want to practise spotting these details on real photos? Floraneo offers profiles and quizzes for dozens of look-alike species.
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.