Lebanon cedar, Cedrus libani. It is a dwarf with an irregular growth habit. Needles are held in very tight clusters, making the plant look dense and congested. Will most likely grow wider than tall.

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) I had considered Cedrus libani but doesn't that normally become an ENORMOUS tree? Do you have a good reference page for this variety?

westes, most conifer genera have multiple species and those species could produce multiple cultivars in a vast range of shapes and sizes. And foliage appearance. So while the species itself may grow to be a large tree, any cultivars may have a completely different growth habit or appearance.

The American Conifer Society has an excellent database that provides a description, if not a photo, of virtually all recognized species and cultivars.

ETA: ‘Green Prince’ was introduced in the early 60's. There's a few around with some years and size to them.

@fig_insanity Z7b E TN Would you mind taking a photo of yours, viewed from the side down low? I would like to see how much of the asymmetric trunk structure shows.

Evidently 'Green Prince' has been around longer than I thought. It was completely new to me when I acquired it.

There's a fair amount of trunk showing on mine, but I think it will vary from specimen to specimen, according to growing conditions and whether any pruning is done. I've never touched mine except to remove dead material. Here's a link to google images that show a pretty large sample of differing growth. Mine happens to be more open than most of the photos, but that may be attributable to its position in an open glade surrounded by taller trees, so it gets early morning and late evening shade.

EDIT: be sure to check that the photos in the link are by reputable nurseries/universities/arboreta. Google is NOT your friend if you don't already know what you're looking at, lol.

@fig_insanity Z7b E TN The photo below is what I would love to have. The photos online are confusing because some look like christmas tree shapes and others look like profuse asymmetrical growth in a small ball. Apparently there is a lot of variety for this one.

The one in the picture appears to have been pruned up. Pruning and training will account for much of the variation you are seeing in photos.

I've long ago heard of this cultivar - it was in the late 1980s catalog of the original, retail/mail order version of Foxborough Nursery in Maryland. (once the definite best mail order source of rare conifer, beech and probably maple grafts, but children of founder went wholesale to make more $$$) I wish it grew a little bigger/faster! It would be cool to have a miniature cedar of lebanon looking tree that got to say, 15'-20' in a lifetime. I wonder what would happen if a coning one were crossed with a regular COL? Is it a true dwarf or a witches broom I wonder? I ask given the seeming rarity of other Cedrus witches brooms.

david, as far as I can determine, this is a naturally occurring dwarf. It was discovered in the late 60's at a local nursery (Wells, Mt. Vernon, WA). They have graced us with a couple of other choice conifers, including 'Wells Special' Hinoki cypress.

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) Wells Special looks amazing:

https://www.thetreecenter.com/wells-special-hinoki-cypress/