Cedrus libani (Also known as Cedar of Lebanon)
On any visit to the grounds of Cannizaro House, you can’t help but be impressed by this statuesque tree. As you follow the path from the common to the main lawn area, you are
faced with this dramatic specimen, which stands sentry, at the border of tended garden and woodland walks.
As with most of the trees I choose in the Winter months, this is evergreen, provides a strong foil to the woodlands behind. Few trees, deciduous or evergreen, can compare with the beauty and elegance of a mature Cedar, and it was extensively planted as part of the enduring landscape of some of our grandest stately homes and estates.
Interestingly this tree does not originate from Lebanon but in fact was found growing on the slopes of Mount Lebanon in Syria. It requires full sun in well-drained soil, but will tolerate exposure.
The Cedar of Lebanon has been important to various ancient civilizations. The trees were used by the Phoenicians for building ships, houses, palaces, and temples. The ancient Egyptians used its resin in mummification, and its sawdust has been found in the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs. The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh designates the cedar groves of Lebanon as the dwelling of the gods to which Gilgamesh, the hero, ventured. So it somehow seems fitting to find such a tree in the grounds of one of Wimbledon’s most
prestigious houses.
