Wood Species Guide
Atlantic White Cedar
Chamaecyparis thyoides
Also called: White Cedar, Southern White Cedar, Swamp Cedar, Atlantic White-Cedar, Juniper (old regional name)
About the name “Atlantic White Cedar”
"White cedar" also refers to northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis), which has its own page. In parts of the Carolinas and New Jersey this tree is called "juniper," but it is a false cypress, not a true juniper or cedar.
What Atlantic White Cedar looks like
Heartwood is light pinkish brown to tan, and the sapwood is pale. It has a mild, pleasant cedar scent.
Grain and texture
Straight grain with a fine, even texture. Lumber from the slender trees is often small and knotty.
Working Atlantic White Cedar: planing, cutting and gluing
Light, soft and very easy to work with hand and machine tools. It glues, nails and screws well, and planes cleanly with sharp blades. Soft earlywood crushes if tools are dull.
Finishing Atlantic White Cedar: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes oils, stains and paint well, or can be left to weather silver. A seal coat helps keep extractives from bleeding into light finishes. For epoxy, seal the soft surface first to keep bubbles down.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Heartwood is durable to very durable against decay, which made it a favorite for boats, shingles and water tanks. It is light and stable. In Florida it suits dock trim, boat parts and shaded outdoor projects, finished on all sides.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Atlantic white cedar is a traditional boatbuilding wood, used for planking and decoys from New Jersey to the Gulf. It grows in swamps of the Florida panhandle, though most lumber comes from farther up the coast. It is light and rot resistant but soft, so keep it for boats, outdoor pieces and carving. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Atlantic White Cedar
Boat planking, decoys and carving, shingles and siding, fencing, water tanks and outdoor furniture.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Rated Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, although its swamp habitat has shrunk a great deal from logging and drainage.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
Few reports beyond occasional skin irritation. Basic dust control is enough for most people.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Skin irritation has been reported. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Atlantic White Cedar in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Atlantic White Cedar listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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