Atlantic White Cedar
Atlantic White Cedar is sometimes called Southern White Cedar. The heartwood is a light reddish-brown and the narrow, clearly defined sapwood tends to be a light yellowish-tan, almost white. The grain is straight with a fine texture.
The wood is easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It takes paint, stains, glues, and finishes well. As with most cedars, Atlantic White Cedar has a cedar-like scent.
It is often used in boatbuilding, carving, siding, shingles, and construction lumber. Atlantic White Cedar has excellent stability and decay resistance. It is also resistant to warping in a variety of temperatures and moisture levels.
By far the most common use of White Cedar is in house construction, but due to Cedar’s scarcity, pine is more commonly used. Historically, the wood was valued for roof shingles as it is lightweight and rot-resistant, but more recently it has been replaced by cheaper and more fire-resistant materials such as asphalt.
The durability of the heartwood makes it a popular choice for use as siding and paneling, and the less resistant sapwood is often used for interior trim.
White Cedar lumber is also used in boat construction. Some other common uses include fencing, telephone and electric poles, woodenware, duck decoys, and lawn furniture. In the States, Atlantic White Cedar is also sold as Christmas trees.
Common Name:
Botanical name:
Indigenous To:
Atlantic White Cedar, Southern White Cedar
Chamaecyparis thyoides
Coastal plain regions of eastern United States