To me a "rustic" is a thin one. You might want to keep pruning these, otherwise your yard is going to disappear beneath them.

bboy, does your answer mean yes it will grow out of its topiary weirdness and become a full normal tree in time? That's what I want.

Anybody here have a grown-out topiary tree? Did it assume 'normal' form? How many years did it take?

Yes, they should grow into normal shapes in a few years. The only downsides are that there might be some rather thick, stubby branches near the base which would leave large scars if pruned off, and any bends in the trunk created by the topiarist would remain.

Resin

Thanks Resin! I don't mind the thick stubby branches near the base. Wanted blue atlas cedars and this is all they had left, good price, big root system with big trunk, decided to try it. Hope it works out! They're so happy this spring. Did have a Cedrus Atlantica but it died, trunk was crushed by moving equipment and it did not recover. Think the blue variety is more robust.

About a month ago I planted a young normal blue atlas cedar so will watch and compare how it ends up vs the topiaried 2. Thanks!

Here's some dimensions of some blue Atlas cedars growing north of you, in western Washington (Height X Trunk Circumference X Average Crown Spread):

88' X 16'4" X 99' Redmond (1995)
116' X 12'2" X 71' Olympia (1993)

These two weren't planted yesterday, of course, but it shows what yours will try to grow into. Specimens even half the size of the ones listed here will occupy a considerably larger space than yours are now. All non-dwarf, normal wild true cedars are inherently monumental trees - even the small-leaved, 'rustic'-looking Cyprus cedar actually grows into a large tree in time, where conditions permit.

Thanks bboy. While riding around Portland for 23 years I have gaped at huge Blue Atlas Cedars and longed for the day I could plant some in my own yard. They are spectacular, majestic, awe-inspiring. I won't live long enough to see these become huge but I have the good karma of leaving them for some fortunate person, beautifying my neck of the woods and watching them grow for whatever time I have left on the planet.

Did buy a Cyprus Cedar a couple months ago, like having a bonsai tree in the yard, LOL. It has actually grown since planted, but one can tell it's a slow grower.

The Cyprus Cedar is the little darker green guy on the left. Will post a picture of him soon, with his new growth :-)

Here's the regular baby blue atlas cedar we just planted:

Looks like the Cyprus cedar is a dwarf or slow-growing cultivar or seedling. Many have a more orthodox habit and aspect, save for the short needles.

Pliny (Natural History XVI: LXXVI) cites Cyprus Cedars about 40m tall. Sadly, none of that size remaining now (the tallest are around 25m), but it shows it has the same growth potential as the other Mediterranean cedars.

UK champions:
Cedrus libani var. libani: 42m
Cedrus libani var. atlantica: 38m
Cedrus libani var. brevifolia: 24m
Cedrus deodara: 38m

Resin

Interesting that libani is the tallest of the champions. We are told that in the wild that the deodars are the tallest, or so I've been let to believe.
Speaking of wild deodars; Resin would you have any pictures of them? : )

Nate

Hi Nate,

Yep, Cedrus deodara is the tallest in the wild (reported to 60m). Sorry, I don't have any photos personally, I've not been to that part of the world. There's some pics at the link below, click on Series 7, 8, 20.

Resin

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.pinetum.org/agPakistan.htm

Front topiaried blue atlas cedar definitely growing out (pic below) (compare to picture further above in thread from this past spring); so is other one.
Cedrus brevifolia and atlas blue normal young ones growing fast also.

Beautiful Cascadians. Looks like they'll grow out nicely. I've got a very "rustic" one bought cheap at a going-out-of-business sale -- nearly all branches broken off to stubs. But I still love it. There's no other blue like the Atlas cedars. Yours look very happy. Kim

Thanks Kim! These came from a nursery going out of business, their last day, everything already picked over and nabbed. These were topiaried to look like cactus. I was really worried that they'd be weird forever. It took a while for the branches to venture forth, as if they expected to be cut the minute they reached out.

Take pictures of your baby's progress and post them, will be interesting.

Gosh the spring pictures show how fluffy and cute the conifers were then. Kind of lanky now.