Cedar tends to be toxic, esp the oils that deter insects and prevent rot. Although there are some recipes for cedar tea for a few medicinal purposes, it can cause allergic reactions, spontaneous abortion in pregnant women, seriously low blood pressure and convulsions.

You wouldn't want to make a rain barrel out of it, either.

Another problem with cedar is that there are some lookalikes. True cedar is different from Incense Cedar (Calocedrus, not a true cedar), Arborvitae (Thuja), and the White Cedar (aka False Cypress) which is really Chamaecyparis. I'm surrounded by this stuff and still can't tell the difference. And we have a lot of Cypress, too. I guess I should go to the arboretum and learn.

Sue