Red Cedar Wood

Cedar wood is a versatile and durable domestic hardwood that grows on both the East and West coasts of the U.S. There are dozens of types of cedar trees that grow all over the world, growing between 130-160ft tall. A few of the most commonly used are: Eastern Red, Western Red, Eastern White, Spanish, and Alaskan Yellow. It is naturally weather and insect resistant, gives off a pleasing and recognizable scent, and is aesthetically attractive to look at. Eastern and Western red cedar are gymnosperm trees, so most cedar wood is considered softwood. Spanish and yellow cedar, however, are hardwoods. With that said, Eastern red cedar, although considered a softwood, has a significantly higher janka rating than the other varieties and is thus stronger and more durable. The heartwood tends to be a reddish or violet-brown with the sapwood being a pale yellow color. It has a straight grain usually with knots and a very fine texture.