From Northern British Columbia, Canada, to California, a rugged 1,500-mile spine of mountains parallels the Pacific coast of North America. Along the slopes and in the valleys of these mountains humus-rich soil nourishes mixed softwood forests in vast abundance. It is among these coastal forests that the majority of Western Red Cedar grows. In addition, Western Red Cedar also grows in the drier interior forests of British Columbia, Washington, Idaho and Montana, where they are smaller in stature with a tight-knotted-growth characteristic.

Western Red Cedars are rarely grown in isolation; they are raised with other species in predominantly managed forests in which controlled harvests, natural regeneration, and reforestation programs ensure a perpetual harvest.

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) is the largest of all cedars, slow growing and long-lived. It is completely non-resinous and is one of America's most decay-resistant species, making it a preferred species for outdoor and exterior uses. It is one of the lightest in weight of the commercially important softwoods and suffers little when exposed to the weather without protection. Known for its extremely fine and even grain, its flexibility and strength in proportion to its weight, Western Red Cedar is renowned for its high impermeability to liquids and its natural phenol preservatives, which make it ideally suited for exterior use and interior use where humidity is high.

Western Red Cedars' slow growth and natural oily extractives are responsible for its decay resistance and its rich coloring. It is a stable wood that seasons easily and quickly, with a very low shrinkage factor. It is free of pitch and has excellent finishing qualities.

We recommend sealing with an oil based stain with a high content of UV screen, such as Penofin, when you want to retain the color, or, when you want the wood to weather to a natural silver grey, use Seasonite by Flood, a water-based product with no UV inhibitors.