Weeping Atlas Cedar

A. True weeping Atlas cedars do naturally weep, but they're often trained by growers to develop a more attractive shape and form for consumers. And for obvious reasons, these blue-needled beauties are fast becoming one of the most popular landscape plants (figure A). As a result of their growing popularity, they're also readily available.

Weeping Atlas cedars are dependably hardy to USDA Zone 6 and with protection--that is, when planted with southern exposure--I've seen them prosper in Zone 5 gardens. Like most evergreens, weeping Atlas cedars prefer a slightly acidic soil that drains really well and contains a fair amount of sandy loam, and they also need at least a half day of full sun. When given all that, weeping Atlas cedars will provide your landscape with a great eye-catching specimen. Their unusual twisting shape tends to attract a lot of attention. What's more, the bigger they get, the more interesting they become.

With a weeping Atlas cedar, you get a very long-lived tree that is virtually free of pest and disease problems.

--Master gardener Paul James