Northern White Cedar

Overview

Thuja occidentalis
Northern White Cedar is one of nature’s most unusual woods. Because most cedar grows near swampy water basins, it has a slow rate of decay and a natural resiliency to rot and disease. White Cedar has a pleasant mild fragrance that acts as a mild insect repellent.


Ecology
Northern White Cedar is an evergreen coniferous tree, considered to be part of the cypress family. It is native to the northeastern United States and Appalachian Mountains, as well as in southeastern Canada.

Unlike the closely related Western Red Cedar, White Cedar is only a small tree, 30-60 feet in height with small trunk diameter (1-2 feet). Its bark is red-brown and furrowed in vertical strips that easily peel away. It has unusual scale-like leaves and slender cones.

White Cedar grows naturally in wet forests, especially proliferate in swamps where other larger and faster-growing trees cannot compete successfully. It also occurs on other sites with reduced tree competition such as cliffs and slopes.

It is not considered an endangered species, but it is under threat in some areas with large deer populations. Deer find the soft evergreen foliage attractive for food and strip it quickly. The White Cedar is used in landscaping, log homes and for outdoor furniture, where its natural oils deter pests and mold.

Unique and Unusual Features

Checking
As it continues to dry and cure, Northern White Cedar normally will check or develop the cracks that help create the wood’s natural character. These are normal and natural processes in cedar and in no way affect the strength or durability of the furniture.

Cedar Oils
While it dries, Northern White Cedar’s natural wood oils may develop a dust on the surface of the wood, which is the crystallization of the wood oils. This dust can be easily removed with a dry cloth.

Warping
Occasionally, soft woods like cedar will warp slightly during transportation. Usually the warp goes away once the furniture has been assembled.


Comparisons with Other Wood

White Cedar vs. White/Yellow Pine
White Cedar is blessed with natural preservatives, that make it one of the most decay/rot resistant and insect tolerant woods available. Checking/cracks will typically not penetrate the heartwood. Pine is not naturally resistant to rot or insects and require preservative treatments (arsenic is a common additive to pine boards to provide resistance). Pine cracks are common and more often penetrate the heartwoodl.

A University of Maine study looked at durability of wood species and found that untreated White Cedar had high natural durability (even with ground contact) with serviceability to 50-60 years. Untreated Pine, on the other hand, has a serviceable range of 3-7 years with ground contact.

Cedar typically has about 1/3 less moisture content when green than Pine. Cedar can be naturally air-dried in a short time, allowing the wood to acclimate itself to the new moisture level without harming its molecular structure. Pine, which tends to retain more moisture, requires additional kiln drying.

More Info and Links

For more info on the Cedar Species:

www.forestry.about.com/library/tree/blntwh.htm


For more info on Natural Cedar Furniture:

http://www.oldadirondack.com/