Atlantic White Cedar

The Atlantic white cedar is the most common cedar species in the pine barrens. This tree has much smoother bark, unlike the pitch pine tree. It has web-like pine needles and fair-toned bark; but the bark may appear darker in heavily shaded areas. These trees are a water retaining plant, which they also like swampy envirnments with wet, sandy soil.

Much of the Atlantic white cedar in the pine barrens has been deforested and harvested for lumber and building material. Since this tree thrives in damp areas, it's anti rotting characteristics made it an ideal material for ship building. Over time, much of the white cedar forests began to disappear. Preserves and forests like Franklin Parker Preserve and Brendan T. Byrne state forest have protected cedar forests to preserve its species and the ecosystem around it.

Creaking Sound in Cedar Forests

In few of the dense cedar forests in the pinelands, you'll hear a creaking noise that is similar to the creaking of old houses and doors. On windy days, the wind will cause some of the barren trees to brush against one and other. Some believe that this happens when spirits come back and haunt the cedar forests in the pinelands.