Native to and named for the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco in northwestern Africa, the Cedrus atlantica or Blue Atlas Cedar is a striking specimen set amidst Mount Auburn’s winter landscape.

Many taxonomists view the Atlas Cedar to be a subspecies of another tree growing at Mount Auburn Cemetery, the stately Cedrus libani.

The Blue Atlas Cedar is shaped like a pyramid with spirals of crisp silvery blue-green needles.  It is but one of the many taxa represented in Mount Auburn’s impressive conifer collection. 

*This Horticulture Highlight was originally published in the March 2007 issue of the Friends of Mount Auburn electronic newsletter.