Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana • Softwood
Grain Pattern
Straight grain with a fine, even texture. Frequent small knots are characteristic, often creating a rustic appearance. No significant figure apart from the natural color variation between grain lines.
Color Description
Heartwood is typically a reddish or violet-brown; sapwood is pale yellow to white. It has a high luster and colors tend to deepen with age, though heartwood can fade to a silvery gray if left exposed to the sun and elements without finish.
Hardness Rating
900 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; heartwood is highly resistant to rot and insect attack, including termites. Often used for its moth-repellent properties.
Common Uses
Fence posts, closet liners, chests, outdoor furniture, birdhouses, pencils, small novelty items, and essential oil production.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America, ranging from southeastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$3.00 - $6.00 per board foot depending on grade and width.
Wood Age Estimate
The logs appear to be relatively fresh-cut to moderately weathered (1-2 years), showing some silvering of the bark and insect entry holes, but maintaining bright reddish tones in the exposed wood.
Sustainability Status
Highly sustainable. Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN; not CITES listed. It is often considered an invasive pioneer species in some areas of the US.
Workability
Easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It saws, planes, and sands well. It can be brittle and prone to splitting when nailing or screwing, so pre-drilling is recommended. Glues and finishes easily.
Notable Features
Distinctive, pungent, aromatic scent; natural moth-repellent oils; relatively light weight; contains many knots which can cause minor tool deflection.
Finish Recommendations
Often left unfinished in closets to maintain scent. For furniture, polyurethane or lacquer works well. To preserve the purple/red color, a finish with UV inhibitors is necessary.
Identification Confidence
High. The characteristic reddish-pink heartwood, thin pale sapwood, and the specific stringy, peeling grey-brown bark are definitive indicators of Juniperus virginiana.