Bark & Rock
Cedar Aromatic Red
Where: Eastern North America
Botanical Name: Juniperus virginiana
Aromatic Cedar, also known as Eastern Red Cedar, isn’t in fact a cedar but a juniper, its name having arisen from its first discovery in its native territory of Eastern North America, most notably Virginia. At the time it was described as a magnificent cedar and somehow this name has stuck.
Aromatic Cedar’s heartwood ranges from reddish through to brownish purple. The sapwood is paler and tinged with rich yellows which create an abstract stripe effect through the heartwood, embellished by attractive knotted areas.
As its name suggests this wood is best known for its distinctive scent which acts as an excellent repellent to insects and to moths in particular. It is also highly resistant to decay.
Aromatic Cedar wood is commonly used for furniture, especially cupboards for storing clothes and textiles. It used to be the main source of wood for pencils and is also often used for bows, as in bows and arrows.