What is "true cedar?"

Though the patio furniture at The Cedar Site is built from Western Red Cedar, a tree that is not an actual member of the cedar family, there are examples of true cedar in the world. True cedars belong to the small genus Cedrus and are a part of the pine family. True cedars, though, grow only in Europe and central Asia, primarily in the Mediterranean region and around the Himalayas.

True cedars of the old world have played a prominent part in western civilization. For example, most historians suspect that the famous temple and house of Solomon were constructed from cedar that probably originated in North Africa. Also, the “cedars of Lebanon,” groves of cedar that are prominent in the Lebanon Mountains, are frequently mentioned in the Bible and are also featured on the Lebanese flag. The Himalayan branch of the cedar family also plays a prominent role in the Hindu religion of India and other central Asian countries. The Hindus, who call it the “tree of God”, venerate the cedar tree.

True cedar possesses many of the attributes of Western Red Cedar. Like the cedar trees of North America, true cedar trees are hardy and fragrant. Grown in a warm climate, true cedars possess the same hardiness and resilience as the American version. They are much better able to withstand harsh weather or droughts than trees grown in more temperate climates and they produce a greater number of chemicals to combat pathogens. Because of its strength and durability, cedar wood is ideal for structural timber, and it is frequently used in shipbuilding. For example, because the famous ships of the Spanish armada were constructed of durable cedar wood from the Mediterranean region, they lasted much longer than the weaker, oak-timbered ships of the British navy.