Cedrus Deodara

Your grandchildren will thank you. Plant this in your park or (big!) garden. In 50 years time it will be a stunning broad headed tree, 30m tall with dark greeny, bluey foliage. Remembering which cedar is which is easy: the branches on C. atlantica go aloft. C. libani are level and C. deodara are down.

Originating in the high altitude Himalayas, it grows best in the cooler, wetter part of the UK, can deal with sun and wind, but is not good in salty or polluted environments. Soils should be moist but well drained, loamy or sandy but not chalky.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.