Which cedar species is shown on the flag of Lebanon?

Which cedar species is shown on the flag of Lebanon? The answer is the Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani). The tree appears in the center of Lebanon’s red-white-red national flag and is one of the country’s oldest national symbols.

Cedrus libani is a conifer native to the mountains of Lebanon, Syria, and southern Turkey. Its broad, spreading crown and horizontal branches distinguish it from several other “cedars,” including the Atlas cedar and Himalayan deodar cedar. Those trees belong to the same genus, Cedrus, but are different species.

The cedar has been associated with Lebanon since antiquity. Its durable, fragrant wood was prized across the ancient Near East, and the tree appears in biblical and other historical writings. The modern flag was formally introduced into Lebanon’s constitution on 7 December 1943, during independence from the French Mandate.

Before 1990, flag versions often showed a brown trunk. A constitutional change standardized the design as an entirely green cedar. The tree symbolizes endurance, immortality, resilience, and hope.