Pencil Cedar, Aromatic Red Cedar, Eastern Redcedar

Scientific name:  Juniperus virginiana

Description:  Heartwood tends to be a reddish or violet-brown. Sapwood is a pale yellow colour, and can appear throughout the heartwood as streaks and stripes.  Pencil cedar has a straight grain, usually with knots present. Has a very fine even texture.

Properties:  Overall, Pencil Cedar is easy to work, notwithstanding any knots or irregularities present in the wood. It reportedly has a high silica content, which can dull cutters. Pencil Cedar glues and finishes well, though in many applications, the wood is left unfinished to preserve its aromatic properties.