Wood Species Guide
Cedar Elm
Ulmus crassifolia
Also called: Basket Elm, Texas Elm, Red Elm (regional, shared), Lime Elm
What Cedar Elm looks like
Heartwood is a light to medium reddish brown with a pale sapwood band. It looks much like other elms.
Grain and texture
Interlocked grain with a medium texture, a little finer than American elm.
Working Cedar Elm: planing, cutting and gluing
Tough and fairly hard, with interlocked grain that resists splitting but can tear out on the planer. It dries with some warp, so leave extra thickness. Glues and finishes well.
Finishing Cedar Elm: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes oil and film finishes well. Seal the porous grain before an epoxy pour to keep bubbles down. The color warms a little with time.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Not rot resistant and susceptible to insects. Elm moves while drying, so buy well-dried stock. In Florida, acclimate it indoors and finish both faces.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Cedar elm is the common elm of Texas, where urban tree crews mill it into slabs and mantels. It is harder than American elm and makes handsome rustic tables with good figure. Flatten in stages, because it can keep moving after the first pass. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Cedar Elm
Furniture, live-edge tables, mantels, flooring, fence posts, tool handles and turnings.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List. Common within its range.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
Few reports on cedar elm itself. Elm dust occasionally irritates eyes and skin, and serious reactions are rare.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Elm dust can act as a sensitizer, usually as eye and skin irritation. Use dust collection and a mask.
Cedar Elm in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Cedar Elm 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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