The Properties of Cedar Wood
Image: Red cedar (image supplied by Simons Group - see Cheshire Oaks: Marks and Spencer).
Contents |
Introduction
Cedar is a type of coniferous wood, meaning that it is classified as a softwood and its cones/needles remain all year round. Cedar trees fall under the Cedrus genus and the Pinaceae family, which is the family of trees that is coniferous.
Only a couple of species of Cedrus exist in the world, but they exhibit certain traits that make them very popular.
Locations of Cedar
Cedar is particularly common in the western Himalayas and areas that surround the Mediterranean Sea. According to botanists, there are four types of cedar:
- Cedrus deodara – The deodar cedar – Western Himalaya.
- Cedrus libani – The Lebanon cedar – Lebanon and Turkey.
- Cedrus brevifolia – The Cyprus cedar - Cyprus.
- Cedrus altantica – The Atlas cedar – Morocco and Algeria.
These are the natural locations of the different species of cedar, but not the only places they can be found. In fact, the cultivation of cedars around the world has been very successful. Cedars can now be found around the entire Mediterranean region, western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.
Description of Cedar
Cedars are naturally found at high altitudes; over 1,500m in the Himalayas, and 1,000m in the Mediterranean.
Compared to a tree within the same family, such as pine, cedars are generally quite small. They typically grow to around 35m, but larger in some circumstances. They have a natural spicy scent, thick bark, and broad branches. The leaves of a cedar are needle-like and can grow up to 6cm long.
Uses of Cedar
Cedar wood and cedar oil are natural moth repellents, which is why cedar is commonly used for creating modern-day hope chests and closets that contain woollen clothes.
There are some types of cedar located in North America that are lightweight but also durable and highly stable. Because of this, it is used as wood shingles, which are tapered pieces of wood that clad roofs and walls to protect them from harsh weather.
Various types of cedar have a beautiful colour associated with them, but they are also resistant to warping and cracking, making them perfect for musical instruments. Instruments such as Spanish classical guitars and occasionally steel string guitars are made from cedar, however the type of cedar that is used is known as Western Red Cedar, which isn't a true cedar, such as the ones aforementioned.
Because of its resistance to warping, cedar can also be used for interior panelling in rooms around the house.
--G&S Specialist Timber 12:01, 13 Mar 2017 (BST)
Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- 11 things you didn't know about wood.
- Aurora Log Homes.
- Bamboo.
- Bordeaux Law Courts.
- Cheshire Oaks: Marks and Spencer.
- Chip carving.
- CIBSE Case Study Olympic Velodrome.
- Cross-laminated timber.
- Definition of tree for planning purposes.
- Engineered bamboo.
- European Union Timber Regulation.
- Forest Stewardship Council.
- Natural materials.
- Pine wood.
- Pine leaves.
- Plywood.
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
- Scunthorpe Sports Academy.
- Shingles.
- Softwood.
- The Scientific Properties of Wood.
- Timber.
- Timber preservation.
- Timber vs wood.
- Tree preservation order.
- Tree rights.
- Types of timber.
- Walnut.
- Best Woods for Wood Carving
- Physical Properties of Wood
- The Differences Between Hardwood and Softwood
Featured articles and news
UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy. In brief with reactions
With the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA).
Ebenezer Howard: inventor of the garden city. Book review.
The Grenfell Tower fire, eight years on
A time to pause and reflect as Dubai tower block fire reported just before anniversary.
Airtightness Topic Guide BSRIA TG 27/2025
Explaining the basics of airtightness, what it is, why it's important, when it's required and how it's carried out.
Construction contract awards hit lowest point of 2025
Plummeting for second consecutive month, intensifying concerns for housing and infrastructure goals.
Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025
Examining the state of mental health in construction, shedding light on levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
The benefits of engaging with insulation manufacturers
When considering ground floor constructions.
Lighting Industry endorses Blueprint for Electrification
The Lighting Industry Association fully supports the ECA Blueprint as a timely, urgent call to action.
BSRIA Sentinel Clerk of Works Training Case Study
Strengthening expertise to enhance service delivery with integrated cutting-edge industry knowledge.
Impact report from the Supply Chain Sustainability School
Free sustainability skills, training and support delivered to thousands of UK companies to help cut carbon.
The Building Safety Forum at the Installershow 2025
With speakers confirmed for 24 June as part of Building Safety Week.
The UK’s largest air pollution campaign.
Future Homes Standard, now includes solar, but what else?
Will the new standard, due to in the Autumn, go far enough in terms of performance ?
BSRIA Briefing: Cleaner Air, Better tomorrow
A look back at issues relating to inside and outside air quality, discussed during the BSRIA briefing in 2023.
Restoring Abbotsford's hothouse
Bringing the writer Walter Scott's garden to life.
Reflections on the spending review with CIAT.
Retired firefighter cycles world to raise Grenfell funds
Leaving on 14 June 2025 Stephen will raise money for youth and schools through the Grenfell Foundation.
Key points for construction at a glance with industry reactions.
Comments
Hello,
Just wanted to let you all know that you have a picture of Red Cedar on this page, then your description of cedars mentions only the genus Cedrus, of which Red Cedar is not a member. Red cedar is not a "true" Cedar and is not in fact even in the pineceae family. It is in the Cupressaceae or "Cypress" family where most trees North Americans consider to be "Cedar" reside. I'm curious, where does "Cedar" lumber in North America come from? Which tree? North America has no native or naturalized true cedars so is wood here marked "Cedar" all Juniper? That is the answer I was looking for when I came to this site, it seems hard to find online.
Dylan Linet
[email protected]
Thank you for your observation. We suggest you contact the original author of this article, G&S Specialist timber. Please refer to their profile page (found here: G&S Specialist Timber) for contact information.
Editor, Designing Buildings Wiki