Yellow Cedar

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Yellow Cedar, also known as Nootka Cypress, Alaska Yellow Cedar and Yellow Cypress is native to North America’s west coast, from the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska to the Klamath Mountains in northern California. The species typically grows on wet sloped mountain sides at higher altitudes where tree growth is slow and steady. It is this growth environment that gives Yellow Cedar the distinctive characteristics that make it so popular around the world.

Callitropsis Nootkatensis, the scientific name for Yellow Cedar, is an evergreen tree growing up to 40 meters (131 feet) tall, commonly with pendulous branches. The foliage is in flat sprays, with dark green, 3–5 mm long scale-leaves. The west coast of British Columbia is home to the oldest Yellow Cedar specimens in the world, with one specimen found to be 1,834 years old.

Beautiful, Durable, Versatile

Yellow Cedar is Ideal For Outdoor Living
Structures & Decking

WFP TRUESTYLE Yellow Cedar adds sustainable, enduring beauty to architectural projects, interior and exterior finishes as well as decks and outdoor structures. Prized the world over for its smooth, rich texture and straight grain, Yellow Cedar offers a distinctive honey-yellow color that creates a modern, prestigious look. Yellow Cedar is ideal in a vast array of applications where appearance is important and strength and durability are not negotiable.

Thanks to its naturally occurring rot-repelling tannins and oils, this unsurpassed species is weather and insect resistant. Because it has no pitch, it takes stains and finishes well. Grown solely on North America’s Northwest Coast, Western Forest Products has abundant access to this beautiful and sustainable species.

Comparing Yellow Cedar
To Western Red Cedar

Both cedar species share many attributes: they’re both sustainably harvested, extremely durable and are incredibly weather-resistant thanks to natural preservatives that protect against moisture, pests and rot. However, Yellow Cedar is denser and harder than Western Red Cedar, so it’s ideal for projects where strength and beauty are key. Great applications for Truestyle Yellow Cedar include: boat building, stairs, bridges, decking, outdoor structures and roofing.

Why Choose Yellow Cedar?

The Top 5 Reasons to Choose Yellow Cedar:

1. Rich, Beautiful Appearance

With its fine, straight grain, creamy texture and soft-white to honey-yellow color, Yellow Cedar creates stunning projects.

2. Strong and Durable

Similar in strength to Douglas Fir, Yellow Cedar is a dense and stable wood. In fact, it’s the hardest cedar in the world.

3. Easy to Work With

Although dense, Yellow Cedar is easy to cut, drill and sand, and lighter than most hardwoods.

4. Naturally Decay Resistant

The tannins and oils in Yellow Cedar naturally repel decay and insects, making it ideal for use in gardens, environmentally sensitive areas and when termites or mold are concerns.

5. Cost Effective

Although it looks expensive, Yellow Cedar is generally priced lower than other cedars and hardwoods, making it an extremely budget-wise choice.

Finishing & Maintenance

Staining

First, select a high-quality penetrating oil with UV protection and a mildewcide.
Stains with some pigment (color) will be more durable than clear ones. Prepare all surfaces by sanding with 100-grit paper.
Brush on the stain, let stand for several minutes, then wipe in and wipe off any excess product with a lint-free cloth.

Maintaining

All materials require some maintenance to keep them looking their best.

For decks, use a hose or broom to remove any dirt and debris caught between decking boards.
Pressure washing is NOT required or recommended, as it may damage and roughen the surface. Instead, scrub the deck with a commercial deck wash, or use a water and oxygenated bleach mix, which is environmentally safe, and hose off.