This geographic subspecies of Cedrus libani is a large, quickly growing tree with horizontal branches at a later age. Naturally occurring on dry, calcareous mountain slopes in the Atlas mountains of north-western Africa. First the trunk is grey and smooth, but rougher in older trees. Later, the bark flakes off in small plates, revealing the reddish brown bark. The branches are fairly loose and open, twigs are first greyish green to greyish brown but turn grey in the second year. The needles, 2 - 2.5 cm long, grow in bundles of 20 - 40 together. Upright cones appear in autumn. Young cones are green but turn purplish brown to brown later. This cedar requires ample sun and is highly tolerant of air pollution.