Properties of Yellow Cedar

Yellow Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), also known as Cyprus, is another coastal species with rare sightings in British Columbia’s (BC’s) interior wet belt area.  This is a slow growing tree which contributes to a dense, fine, even grain.  While its strength and thickness is similar to other coastal species, it also has high natural extractives which give it decay resistant properties similar to Western red cedar.  As such, it has gained a reputation as one of the world’s most durable woods.

The versatile wood is extremely easy to work, has a natural beauty and texture, and is resistant to corrosion and environmental elements.  Yellow cedar wood is sought after internationally for its Sulphur-yellow color and excellent carving properties.  It is very fine-grained, fairly hard, and heavier than red cedar, but it works very easily and has a gorgeous satin-like finish.  The wood has a low shrinkage factor and is one of the most durable softwoods.  These qualities, together with its firm, uniform, make Yellow cedar a valuable wood for boat building, fine cabinet work, indoor finish, paneling, veneers, sash and doors, and general construction uses.  It weighs about 31 lbs per cubic foot air dried. 

Yellow cedar wood has a very pungent odor described by some to be similar to sliced potatoes.  Its superb carving qualities were taken advantage of for indigenous Canadian’s carvings and have also been used for intricate carvings in Japanese temples.