Juniper

Juniper, a thick bushy tree with disheveled appearance, grows in the arid Western United states. The heartwood is reddish brown, but the sapwood is white. They are often intermixed giving a special appearance characteristic. Large knots are pervasive and hollows in larger logs render them useless for lumber. Lumber has a pungent odor when milling (like other cedars). Juniper wood is slightly more dense than ponderosa pine. The wood is also quite hard for a softwood. The wood is easy to dry. To maintain the aroma, drying temperatures should not exceed 85 F. Like other cedars, this wood is very stable when the humidity changes in use.