For Mr. and Mrs. Anyone out there, the difference in cedar species is probably not one of their most vital concerns, but speaking to literally thousands of people over the years about log siding, it is clear that most people think that cedar is cedar. To help dispel that notion and clarify what advantages one type of cedar has over another, the following is offered.

All cedars are classified as softwoods; they’re all long-lasting and have a nice fragrance, but that’s where the similarity ends. The woods of the various cedars differ from each other in terms of color, density (insulating value), hardness of the wood, weight, strength, manufacturing lengths and available grades of wood.

Due to cedar’s natural resistance to decay and insects, it has long been the wood of choice for outdoor applications. To illustrate a point, totem poles, carved from western red cedar; some standing after a thousand years, would have become part of the forest floor at that time if the Indians had used, say, hemlock or pine.

Cedar is classified by appearance rather than strength and is not normally used for beams, joists, joists, or other structural components. The degrees of appearance range from the clear to the various knotty classifications. Most of the cedar is used for siding. Other common uses are porch decking, railings, outdoor furniture, fence material, or anywhere wood needs to withstand the ravages of time and the elements.

There are several species of cedar in North America, but let’s eliminate the shrub varieties of cedar and the species of cedar that don’t grow big enough to produce usable wood. Two species called Eastern Red Cedar and Southern Red Cedar are actually juniper. They are small, “overgrown” trees, the largest of which can be cut into short boards used for “cedar” chests, birdhouses, and closet liners. Another species, Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis Thyoides), grows in a small area along the east coast. Although larger trees can produce wood, not enough quantities are available for commercial distribution.

This leaves five species of cedar with trees large and tall enough to cut into longer, more graded wood: western red cedar, frankincense cedar, Port Orford cedar, and yellow cedar; all from the western states and Northern White Cedar in the northeast. We go down to four if we remove Yellow Cedar (Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis) sometimes called Alaskan cedar, and is found in Alaska and northern British Columbia, but not widely distributed in the lower 48 countries.

Western red cedar (Thuja Plicata) commonly called simply red cedar it provides most of the cedar sold, and is the standard by which all others are measured. It is in high demand for its durability, resistance to decay, and dimensional stability, and due to its porous cellular structure, it is lightweight and is the best insulator of all cedars. Red is a bit of a misnomer as the wood ranges from a light cream color to warm shades of tan and brown. WRC is the most prolific of all cedars, growing west of the Cascade Mountains in northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. A variety of WRCs, sometimes called Inland Cedar, grows east of the mountains and, due to the drier climate, does not reach the size of the cedar found in lush, rain-soaked coastal forests. Old-growth WRC trees are typically six feet in diameter at the stump and can be 180 feet tall. In dense stands, the first branch may be thirty meters above the ground. These giants produce long, clear, flawless runs of the best cedar wood available anywhere and are shipped worldwide. Due to the large volume harvested, it is the most likely species to find in your local lumber yard. The wide variety of grades, as well as the longest lengths available, make the WRC the most utilitarian of all cedars. And let’s not forget the shakes and shingles that are ground from, you guessed it, Western Red Cedar.

Cedar incense (Calocedrus Decurrens) It is found in western Oregon and parts of northern California. Although it does not reach the size of the WRC, it produces quality, well-graded and longer wood. Wood is slightly heavier and less porous than WRC, so it lacks insulating value. It has a light pine color which is a desirable feature for many. Wood is a bit harder than WRC and works well for decks, railing, or patio furniture, for example, where a more “scratch-free” surface is needed. Due to the smaller average size of the Incense Cedar tree, it does not produce as many transparent grades as Western Red, but the knobby “look” grade wood not only looks attractive but is less expensive. Due to the limited growing area, Incense Cedar is not as widely available as WRC.

Port Orford Cedar (Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana) it is in a class by itself. It grows only between Coos Bay, Oregon and Crescent City, California and inland from the ocean about fifty miles. The old trees (the few that remain) rival the WRC in girth and height. PO cedar has a uniform light cream color and is the strongest of all cedars; so strong in fact that it can be used for some structural applications. The wood has an exceptionally straight grain and short old growth PO blocks (screws) are used to make arrows. In the days when fishing boats and other work boats were made of wood, the material of choice for the hull decking was PO cedar due to the durability and strength of the long, clear, and wide wood available at the time. . Supplying the high demand of the small growing area leaves little available for the market today, especially in the clear grades. Port Orford lumber with knots and appearance quality is sold in some outlets, mainly in the west.

Northern White Cedar (Thuja Occidentalis) It is found in the lake states, southeastern Canada, the states of New England, and Maine. This species is also known as eastern white cedar, but for the most part it is only known as white cedar. Locally it has been called American red cedar and swamp cedar. A typical white cedar tree is 50 feet tall and two feet on the stump, but can reach a height of 80 feet. Saw logs generally underperform superior quality lumber because they are often knotty, crooked, or hollow. Also, the longer milled white cedar wood is a rare commodity due to the smaller size of the logs. Like all cedar, wood is stable and resistant to decay. Unlike western cedars, which have a multitude of appearance and structural grades, white cedar is generally rated only on a # 1, # 2, or # 3 base.

So armed with the above information, you can tell the seller at the lumber yard that you are not interested in the Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis, but I want to look at the Calocedrus Decurrens.