Two of the three cedar species come from the Mediterranean region, one species is native to the western Himalayas. The imposing and majestic cedars, Cedrus libani, are already mentioned in the Bible. Their durable wood has always been highly sought after, so that the natural stands at the heights of Lebanon and Atlas (Cedrus atlantica) have been heavily overexploited and drastically reduced in their areas of origin.

All Cedrus species develop into large, evergreen conifers with an imposing tree crown. The typical egg-shaped cones are only formed when the tree is older. All cedars require a sunny location and are, due to their origin, more droughtresistant than other genera of the Pinaceae family.

Cedars prefer to be planted in spring.