Red cedar

Eastern USA , Southern Canada, South India

Soft, straight-grained with a fine, even texture. Very knotty with distinctive cedar aroma.

The narrow sapwood is nearly white or light cream in color.

The color of the heartwood is initially light red, purplish or rose-red. It ages to a dull red or reddish brown, usually with streaks of included lighter colored sapwood. The heartwood often contains many small knots, which are reported to impart a pleasant rustic look to furniture manufactured from Eastern red cedar.

Soft, easy to work but knots may present some difficulties. Easy to finish, very distinctive cedar aroma. The wood has a high natural resistance to attack by decay causing organisms.