Different climate? Different, hardier strain (or subspecies)? Those from Turkey are called ssp. stenocoma and are hardier than those from Lebanon, account for older plants seen in ne US. Possibly the Garden has somehow never tried hardier ssp.

I contacted everyone I could think of in the town of Lebanon including nurseries around there and I can`t find anyone who knows the cultivar in the town square. St. Louis Botanical Garden claims they had tried the stenocoma selection. That is what I`ve tried.

I went to the Kemper Center for Home Gardening page for Cedrus libani, and it has the tree listed as hardy to zone 5. I'm sure you've seen this too though, but I'm attaching the link. It also says that in St. Louis it should be planted in a sheltered location. I know there are some Cedrus libani v. atlantica here in KC, but I don't recall ever seeing any big ones.
Allan

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Apart from any temperature problems, my guess would be that soil may be a significant factor - St Louis is on Mississippi alluvial mud, probably not very well drained. Not exactly what cedars like. Lebanon is on at least slightly higher ground, and perhaps better drained too.

Resin

My response originally started out "Different climate? Different soil?" etc. and now it appears the soil may be a factor.

With the exception of the soil conditions, if cedrus can make it at Purdue University and in Spring Grove Cemetary in Cincinnati they should be able to make it in St. Louis. David

Cedrus libani 'Purdue Hardy' has to be a var. stenocoma even though not written as such for sale. What does anybody know?

Dax

Seems to be grown from seed from a cultivated tree of unknown origin. It would need genetic testing to discover its native origin, and even that may not be very conclusive.

Resin

Wow, a new touch to genetic testing. I assumed it to be without question.

Dax

The few photos I've seen showed a plant looking like Cedrus deodara 'Repandens', one of several habit variants of Himalayan cedar sold routinely as weeping Cedar-of-Lebanon cultivars. Three distinct types are recognizable and more or less prevalent just in Seattle.

1. Scarecrow: A sparse, totem-like tree perhaps represented by older examples of full size as well as newer plantings, as there are tall specimens that look quite like it; youngsters in nurseries have few branches, resemble staked weeping Sierra redwoods; being Himalayan cedars they are quite glaucous when young, thus, presumably "C. libani 'Glauca Pendula'" (or vice versa), as well as "C. libani 'Pendula'

2. Blue Pyramid: A steel blue, comparatively low and spreading tree consistently having both a leader and large side branches; called "C. libani 'Pendula'" by nurseries; A fairly big one at South Seattle Community College arboretum (but not in the Coenosium garden donated by Bob and Diane Fincham) is labeled "C. libani 'Glauca Pendula'" (or vice versa); quite similar to the next except for habit and color; two, small, staked, not-yet-developed specimens I am growing could be interchanged except for color

3. 'Repandens': Forest green, variably sideways-oriented cultivar introduced by the old Clarke nursery in California; sent to Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, BC, where prominently placed specimen(s) may have been basis for more than one of multiple superfluous cultivar names used over the years, including C. libani 'Beacon Hill'

No pics of 'Purdue Hardy' on the net anywhere that I could find.

Anyone got a 'Purdue Hardy' they can post a close-up photo of some foliage?

Or even better, anyone who can get to Purdue University, and get a close-up of some cones as well as foliage?

Resin

Here is a link that might be useful: Purdue University grounds map with 'Purdue Hardy' marked (pdf file)