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CEDAR, INCENSE

Calocedrus decurrens
Calocedrus decurrens of the family Cupressaceae. There are actually three species that most commonly are called incense cedar but two of them are obscure woods in the USA:

• Calocedrus decurrens --- It seems the original name was California incense cedar but it is not more often called just incense cedar (among many other cedar names), this is native to the Western USA and Mexico and is what you will find as incense cedar in the USA. Unfortunately, it is also sometimes called (incorrectly, I believe) pencil cedar.
• Calocedrus macrolepis --- in the USA this is called Chinese incense cedar and it is native to China, Vietnam, and Laos. It is not generally available in the USA
• Calocedrus formosana --- in the USA this is called Taiwanese incense cedar and it is native to Taiwan and is a VERY close relative of Calocedrus macrolepis. It is not generally available in the USA.

There is another obscure (in the USA) species in Argentina and Chile called Chilean incense cedar and that is Pilgerodendron uvifera. We in the USA would not categorize that as a cedar at all.

my samples: NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting ("soft white" at 2700K) colors will vary under other lighting conditions

both sides of a sample plank of incense cedar / Calocedrus decurrens --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of incense cedar / Calocedrus decurrens --- HUGE enlargements are present.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


both sides of a sample plank of pencil cedar / Calocedrus decurrens --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. This Canadian sample vendor calls this pencil cedar, but I believe that to be incorrect and that Calocedrus decurrens is only appropriately called incense cedar (pencil cedar refers to a lot of species in the Juniperus genus).


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of incense cedar / Calocedrus decurrens --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample and the one directly below were contributed to the site by Chuck Neeley, whom I thank.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


both sides of a sample plank of incense cedar / Calocedrus decurrens --- HUGE enlargements are present. This saample and the one directly above were contributed to the site by Chuck Neeley, whom I thank.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above

web pics:

polished log end


planks labeled as just incense cedar




sections of large slabs, all from the same vendor and all listed as incense cedar / Calocedrus decurrens


turning stock


rough-cut planks used as paneling --- as you can see in the enlargement, these might even have been sand-blased to bring out a texture to the grain


planks ready to use as decking


toungue-and-groove flooring planks


paneling


exterior siding and fence both labeled as just incense cedar


fancy window of incense cedar (MIGHT be some other form of cedar)


very nicely done box of incense cedar, making good use of some raw wood features including grooves in the top that were likely made by worms just under the bark