Ongoing climate change increasingly affects growth conditions of native conifers such asPicea abies(Norway spruce) andPinus sylvestris(Scots pine) in Central Europe. These conifers are primarily cultivated for wood production. To obtain ecologically and economically stable forests, forestry seeks alternative species that might be less prone to novel climatic conditions, such asCedrus libani(Lebanon cedar). We aim at investigating growth responses to climatic factors ofC.libanicompared to nativeP.abiesandP.sylvestrisin Central Europe for 25 years (1994–2019). Growth responses were used as a proxy for tolerance towards climatic stress events, such as heat and drought. Height, diameter at breast height (DBH) and radial increment were measured for 40-year-old tree stands ofC.libaniand native conifers. Radial growth responses to selected climate parameters were analysed using bootstrapped correlations with detrended growth index chronologies and growth response indices for drought years (2003, 2012, 2015, 2018). ForC.libani, radial growth was positively correlated with high water availability in late winter and spring, while forP.abies, February and summer and forP.sylvestris, July showed such a relationship.Cedrus libaniexhibited the highest resistance, recovery, and resilience in response to climatic extremes. Against the background of climate change,C.libanicould serve as an alternative conifer species to establish climate-resistant viable forests in Central Europe.