Introduced to Britain around 1844, but first catalogued by botanists in 1827. This endangered species is sometimes known as Atlantic Cedar.

Native to the Tell Atlas, Aurès and Rif mountain ranges stretching across Algeria, Morocco and Tunisa in North Africa. Grows up to 2,000m altitude in its native range, often on rocky soils, exposed to heavy winter snowfall and hot-dry summers.

Monoecious, male cones 3–4cm, falling after releasing pollen. Female maturing after 2–3 years, then disintegrating to release a winged seed. Thrives in mixed forests, where it can dominate the canopy, reaching a height of 40m.

Tall, single- or multi-stemmed with strongly vertical stems. Branches ascend near the trunk then level out. Bark greyish, cracking into plates. It has the least prominent foliage ‘plates’ of the true cedars. Needles green to grey-green, 20mm and stiff, in rosettes of 30-45. Female cones often in rows, 8cm, barrel-shaped with a dimpled, smooth tip.

Grow in well-drained soil, where it tolerates alkaline conditions, but avoid high rainfall. Hardy to -20°C. Not very shade-tolerant, so give plenty of light. It may gain importance in commercial forestry, being the most suitable of the three main cedars thanks to relatively fast growth and light branching.

In its native range, mixed forests with Atlas Cedar (alongside Moroccan Fir p. xxx) and various broadleaves, provide habitat for the endangered Barbary Macaque.

Endangered in its native range through human exploitation, especially illegal logging outside the few protected areas, and increasingly hit by drought and wildfire; the climate-change threat is significant. In cultivation it is prone to cypress aphid and cypress canker.

A superb specimen tree for a large garden; the glaucous Blue Atlas Cedar is very popular, with many cultivars. Its high-quality timber is strong, beautifully figured and fragrant, used in construction and furniture including outdoors, where it is more durable than Cedar of Lebanon.