California Christmas Tree

California Christmas tree. Color Your World and Guzman’s Greenhouse will normally have this tree available year-round. Ask for it at your local nursery or retail greenhouse store.

The California Christmas Tree (Cedrus deodara) is also called the Himalayan cedar. This tree tolerates alkaline soil making it a good choice for your southwest landscape. Some folks think it will not grow here, believe me, it will. This beautiful tree is classified into the Pinaceae family and is a conifer, meaning cone-shaped like evergreen or pine.

Color Your World and Guzman’s Greenhouse usually have this tree available all year. Have you checked with your local nursery or garden center? It’s worth asking if they stock it. These places often carry a variety of trees and can provide the one you’re looking for. So, the next time you’re planning to enhance your garden, make sure to consider this option.

It is a moderate grower and will do great in full sun. In and around the Southwest area it will grow about 60 ft. tall and 25ft. wide. Guzman’s Garden Centers will usually have this type of tree in stock. In its native land, which is Afghanistan and India it will grow to about 120 ft. tall.

Fertilizing your plants in the spring, summer, and fall sets them up for lush, green growth all year round. A 20-20-20 all-purpose fertilizer is a great choice, balancing key nutrients for your garden. Wondering where to find it? Just drop by your local nursery or greenhouse store and ask for this specific blend. They’re often stocked and ready to help your plants thrive.

Problems with this tree.

It is susceptible to spider mites. These are tiny insect mites that will damage the foliage of the tree. Spraying with a good insecticide will kill these insects. Spider mites thrive in dry hot conditions it’s important to check your tree often for these creatures. You can also use Neem oil as an organic substitute.

Needle blight affects most conifer trees, including this one, but it’s less common in the southwest. Why? The region’s low rainfall creates conditions that aren’t ideal for the fungi responsible for this disease. Needle blight thrives in damp settings and spreads easily when moisture levels stay high.

In contrast, the arid southwest offers fewer opportunities for fungal growth. Even so, you should still watch for symptoms, like dying needles or browning, especially after unexpected wet weather. Regularly inspecting your tree helps catch problems early, no matter the climate.

It can contact the blight if conditions are right, too much water or overspray from the lawn sprinkler. You can use a copper-based fungicide to help fight this disease.

Read more about needle blight on the website.

Check our page on insects and diseases on plants and trees.

The California Christmas Tree USDA Hardiness Zone: 7 – 11.

Read more about this beautiful Confier at Wikipedia. Check your USDA zone here.

Color Your World and Guzman’s Greenhouse normally have this tree available year-round.

Check out our post on Cut Christmas trees.