This iconic wood known throughout the world for its beauty versatility and spicy aroma is a softwood.
Is yellow cedar a hardwood or softwood.
It belongs to a group of plants known as gymnosperms which includes most conifers such as pine and fir trees.
Alaskan yellow cedar is generally used for boat building and general outdoor construction.
Yellow cedar is a bright timber ranging in colour from soft yellow to light brown.
The common term for all gymnosperms is softwoods.
The grain is typically very straight with a fine and even texture.
Most hardwoods have a higher density than most softwoods.
Spanish cedar is easy to work with.
It is known for its exceptional working properties and can be easily machined and finished.
No cedar is not a hardwood.
The reason why we have included this wood in our list of softwoods is that people tend to consider cedar as hardwood but no it is a softwood.
Alaskian yellow cedar cupressus nootkatensis also known as nootka cypress yellow cypress alaska cypress nootka cedar or yellow cedar is mostly native to coastal regions of northwestern north america.
Alaskan yellow cedar was initially placed in the cupressus genus and later in the chamaecyparis genus where it had remained for roughly 160 years.
Most softwoods have a lower density than most hardwoods.
It turns planes and shapes well and can be sanded to a smooth finish.
Hardwood is typically more expensive than softwood.
Yellow cedar is considerably harder when dry than most commercial softwoods so it is strong.
Sapwood occurs as a very narrow band and is almost white to yellowish white.
But the genus of the tree has been less clearly defined it s perhaps one of the woods with the most often changed and reclassified botanical name.
This wood has a soft red brown coloration with a fine straight grain and a smattering of knots.
It is generally a very soft wood compared to other cedar species.