A tall, fragrant evergreen with rich, textured foliage and a narrow, elegant silhouette for year-round privacy and structure
FEATURES:
- Aromatic evergreen foliage with a clean, woodsy scent when brushed
- Narrow, upright habit that adds height without taking over the yard
- Dense branching for natural screening and strong winter presence
- Textured, flattened sprays of deep green foliage for a refined conifer look
- Excellent as a specimen or in a privacy grouping along property lines and long views
- Long-lived, low-fuss structure tree once established in the right site
- Hand Selected; Fresh from the Grower
- Ships on our trucks because the size of the tree - does not fit in a box.
Bower & Branch Landscape Design Tip:
For privacy that still looks natural, avoid planting evergreens in a rigid straight line. Stagger them in a gentle zig-zag with consistent spacing, and you’ll get better depth, better screening, and a landscape that feels designed instead of “installed.”
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 5-8
- Mature Height: 40-60' tall
- Mature Width: 12-20' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Partial Shade
- Spacing: 12-20' apart
California Incense Cedar
Bower & Branch Trees and Plants
Calocedrus decurrens
Regular priceSave 25% on All Tree Collections with code: SPRINGBEST25 at checkout.
Plant with Confidence when choosing Big & Tall Trees and Hedges!
A tall, fragrant evergreen with rich, textured foliage and a narrow, elegant silhouette for year-round privacy and structure
FEATURES:
- Aromatic evergreen foliage with a clean, woodsy scent when brushed
- Narrow, upright habit that adds height without taking over the yard
- Dense branching for natural screening and strong winter presence
- Textured, flattened sprays of deep green foliage for a refined conifer look
- Excellent as a specimen or in a privacy grouping along property lines and long views
- Long-lived, low-fuss structure tree once established in the right site
- Hand Selected; Fresh from the Grower
- Ships on our trucks because the size of the tree - does not fit in a box.
Bower & Branch Landscape Design Tip:
For privacy that still looks natural, avoid planting evergreens in a rigid straight line. Stagger them in a gentle zig-zag with consistent spacing, and you’ll get better depth, better screening, and a landscape that feels designed instead of “installed.”
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 5-8
- Mature Height: 40-60' tall
- Mature Width: 12-20' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Partial Shade
- Spacing: 12-20' apart
Why plant California Incense Cedar?
California Incense Cedar is all about lasting structure with a little extra character. Its foliage forms layered, flat sprays that create a refined texture, and the tree grows with a naturally narrow, upright presence that looks composed year-round. It’s also known for its aromatic foliage and bark, giving it that subtle “mountain air” quality when you’re working around it in the garden.
This is a strong choice when you want an evergreen that can provide screening and vertical emphasis without feeling bulky. As it matures, it becomes a stately landscape anchor, bringing privacy, winter interest, and a classic conifer silhouette that works beautifully with both naturalistic and more formal designs.
How to use California Incense Cedar in the landscape?
Use it as a tall specimen evergreen in a front yard or wide side yard where the narrow form can add vertical definition and year-round presence. It also works beautifully in spaced groupings along property lines to create privacy without the look of a clipped hedge. Place it behind mixed shrub borders to create a deep green backdrop, or use it to frame long views and entry approaches. Pair it with lighter or finer-textured plants in front to highlight the foliage texture, and give it enough room to develop its natural shape without crowding structures or overhead lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
It does not produce showy blooms. Like many conifers, it forms small, inconspicuous pollen structures, with cones providing the more noticeable reproductive feature.
Yes. Its upright habit and dense branching make it a strong option for year-round screening, especially when planted in a spaced grouping to create depth and coverage.
Pruning is typically minimal. Remove dead or damaged branches in late winter, and avoid heavy shearing so the tree can maintain its natural, elegant form.
