Gymnosperms: the "not so soft" woods

Longleaf Pine (Old Growth/Antique)

Pinus palustris

Height: 100-150ft

Range: SE United States

A true pine which historically was the keystone tree in the now endangered Longleaf Pine Savannahs. The wood that makes these dice is recycled from old growth wood cut in late 1800's-early 1900's. 

Douglass-Fir, Oregon Pine

Pseudotsuga menziesii

Height: 70-330 ft

Range: West North America- southern British Columbia to California,and following the Rocky Mountains as far south as northern Mexico.

The name is a misnomer since it's actually not a true fir but a member of the "False Hemlocks", hence genus name 'Pseudo-tsuga'. 

Old growth stands are threatened, so the wood used for these dice mostly co

Coast Redwood, California Redwood

Sequoia sempervirens

Height: 200-240 ft

Range: Fog-belt Northern California and Southern Oregon

One of the tallest trees on the planet, the record height is nearly 380ft tall. Heavily forested for decades, these now only grow in a 470mi x 47 mi area. The wood used for these dice is from pieces that were too small to be nurse logs, and in positions where removal would 

Japanese Cypress, Hinoki

Chaemaecyparis obtusa

Height: 80-115ft

Range: central Japan, but a common ornamental tree in temperate regions

 Hinoki along with Pagoda wood are commonly used to build Japanese theaters, temples, pogodas, and Castles in the past. 

This wood is a direct import from Japan, and pieces of this quality will take some time to find again.

Nootka Cypress, Alaskan Yellow Cedar 

Callitropsis nootkatensis

Height: 100-130ft

Range: coastal Southeast Alaska to Puget sound and more inland south to the fog belt of northern California

Visually unique, they are notable because of their extreme droopy look- but the wood shows off a unique yellow and aromatic wood with one of the best burls available. 

It is threatened in parts of its range so the w

Eastern Redcedar, Aromatic Redcedar, Eastern Juniper

Juniperus virginiana

Height:40-70ft

Range: Eastern half of US and Canada around the Great Lakes 

Another misnomer, this time a juniper in the cypress family, it is not a true cedar.

The wood is incredibly aromatic when being worked and combined with the reddish coloration and smooth touch- it is one of my favorites. They grow fast and are very common