Atlas cedar or Cedar of Lebanon: how to tell them apart?
Atlas cedar and Cedar of Lebanon 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
Atlas cedar
Cedrus atlantica
Cedar of Lebanon
Cedrus libani
At maturity the cedar of Lebanon forms a broad, flat-topped silhouette in distinct horizontal tiers, whereas the Atlas cedar keeps a narrower, pyramidal habit, often with silvery blue foliage.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, short stiff needles in tufts, dark green to bluish depending on the variety
Short needles grouped in dense tufts on short shoots
🌸 Flowers
Upright yellow-brown male cones releasing pollen in autumn
Upright male cones releasing a cloud of pollen in autumn
🍎 Fruits
Large, upright, barrel-shaped female cones, light brown, breaking up on the tree when ripe
Large, upright, barrel-shaped cones, breaking up on the tree
🪵 Bark
Grey, cracking into scales with age
Grey to brown, fissured, characteristic tiered silhouette
📏 Size
20 to 35 m tall
25 to 40 m tall
🗺️ Habitat
Planted as a specimen tree in large parks and château grounds for its majestic habit
Widely planted in parks and large gardens
⚠️ Toxicity
—
No known toxicity
🔎 And from the Cedar of Lebanon side
The Atlas cedar keeps a narrower, conical habit, often with bluish foliage, whereas the cedar of Lebanon develops a flat crown in broad horizontal tiers with age.
🌿 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.