Thank you, glaciers_end! I'll read up on Cedrus atlanica 'Galuca Pendula' and then we can search for it.

with a 5 inch trunk ... its 10 to 20 years old ... ken

Is that possible, Ken, for this small tree to be that old? Maybe my dh misjudged the trunk size.... we'll check it more carefully on our next walk by. If it is that old, then wouldn't this be like a bonsai?

We will have to reconsider this as a planting for our yard if it requires such continual and severe pruning to maintain a short stature... yikes!

No pruning, that is its habit.

It is a distinct weeper so height is NOT an indicator of age - trunk girth and overall size can be. I wouldn't guess it at much more than 10 years unless the pruning has been on the extended leader to shorten. These can actually get to be very large trees overall in time, often with a spread (that extension of the weeping leader) of 25-35 feet or more, if properly supported and not pruned or headed back. One at a now out of business wholesale nursery nearby extended at least 50' along the top of a chain link fence.

Take a look at this example - or this - for an indication of their size potential.

My Weeping Atlas Cedar is approximately 10 years.

Stuartlawrence, do you prune yours? I asked because I noticed the thick lateral branching.

Gardengal48... those are mighty HUGE examples. I think we'll have tor research this more, although my dh says he loves this tree and is not worried about its eventual growth as "we're retired." However, I think a plant should be placed in a spot where its natural habits are allowed to flourish. We won't exactly 'duke this out' but we will discuss and visit some other examples before making a decision. Thanks, everyone.

Go for it - I have one and it's my favorite tree. You'll enjoy watching its growth patterns I'm sure. I'll probably get another one even though my yard I small. You can train them or let them droop. Google it and you'll see so many interesting and beautiful specimens.

moliep: I never pruned it. Weeping Atlas Cedar grow pretty slowly. It will take decades to get huge.

Good news from Gibson and stuartlawrence. It should make my dh very happy because he loves conifers and wishes we had more in our yard. In fact, when I shared the comment about its taking decades to get huge, he responded, "Cool!" I will definitely Google it to see the way others have grown.

Mine is about 10 years old, and 2-1/4" diameter trunk at the base. Rather than pruning, it's sometimes helpful to put in a sturdy post and loosely tie it to raise up the main weeping trunk and keep it above the ground. After a year or so it may stay that way without the stake. Otherwise, I would prune to keep all of the foliage 3-6" above ground to help avoid disease and rooting in the soil.

I've never seen a branch from a Cedrus atlantica root because it was touching or buried in the soil. No disease issues either. Has anyone?

mike

Nope!! They are pretty commonly grown around here with the branches resting on the ground. Was visiting a client's garden yesterday with a collection of heavily weeping conifers and all had a wide curtain of lower branches covering the ground, including the weeping Atlas cedar. Two "Cousin It" type weeping spruces had a very wide spread of these types of ground hugging branches.

IME, it is almost impossible to keep these off the ground unless you prune them off or in the case of the Cedrus, provide some sort of support. Have never seen it cause a problem for the tree.

Some spruces are a different matter. A spruce that was sold to me as a Nest Spruce was just a seedling that had been trimmed to look like a Nest Spruce. I let it grow vertical and one of the branches that was on the ground rooted. I've also started Dwarf Alberta spruces from cuttings.

mike

Now many of them around here are blighting, but this is all over the crown, not just near the ground. Most evergreen trees and shrubs look best branching all the way to the ground, with only the limbing up of old specimens that have been starting to leave behind the lower branches on their own for some time, also have attractive or interesting bark being productive. Otherwise the too common lifting of young or weeping specimens in particular with lower branch removal or lopping back of drooping branches just makes them look dumb or ugly.

I like the look of my weepers just an inch or two above the ground. It's subtle, but I think it looks airier and more graceful. Arborists hate weepers touching the ground (or at least all of the ones that I know) due to disease issues but I've never seen disease result from it and a Cedrus won't root from this (although a Juniper can).

These comments are very helpful and will guide us next spring when we purchase a Cedrus. Thank you, all.