What is Cedar?

The answer to this question is more complex that one might think. There are several different types of wood that are commonly known as cedar. The cedar with which most Americans are familiar, that cinnamon-colored, pleasantly scented wood, actually comes from a North American tree of the cypress family, commonly known as Western Red Cedar (Thuja Plicata). The Western Red Cedar is a conifer (meaning it bears cones) and evergreen tree, similar to pine in its construction, which is native to the coastlines and the more arid regions of the Pacific Northwest. The Western Red Cedar is a tall, majestic tree, reaching nearly 200 feet when fully grown. Because of Western Red Cedar’s ability to grow in both wet and arid climates, it is an incredibly hardy tree, surviving nearly anywhere it is planted.

The dark-hued heartwood of the Western Red Cedar is resistant to rot. The tree produces oil that protects it from fungi or other pathogens that would cause it to decay. Consequently, the wood from Western Red Cedar creates durable, long-lasting patio furniture. Also, the aromatic odor of the cedar tree that is pleasant to humans effectively drives away insects and snakes (should you live in an area where snakes are a threat).

The wood of the Western Red Cedar falls into the softwood category. This classification of softwood can be somewhat misleading, though. Softwood refers not to the actual softness or hardness of the wood, but to the structural characteristics of the tree. In softwood trees, the inner cells of the tree serve two purposes: to conduct water from the roots to the leaves and to provide a supporting skeleton that gives the tree rigidity. Thus, softwood trees are incredibly strong, but not nearly as heavy as some hardwood trees can be. Because Western Red Cedar is lightweight yet durable, it is ideal for use in outdoor patio furniture.