I wouldn't know Cascara if you beat me with it. As far as an easy-working-wood, I've come to appreciate oceanspray when it is green. It needs to be worked down anyway, otherwise it will check badly, and when it is green it carves like celery. I've been clamping staves, green, into forms and letting them dry that way. They bend easily. Also, oceanspray makes great arrow shafts. So almost every bush will provide something.
Like these guys. I drive by these everyday. I have climbed high and low to find good OS staves and this neighbor has these two monsters growing, ornamentally, in his yard. He might as well have a safe full of cash laying open in his yard--the thoughts that have gone through my head.
Well this year these two beasts are not blooming--no leaves. I'm thinking they got sprayed. So I am poised to approach these people and ask if I can take them.
You might find heavier staves than these but you will not find a more prolific set of quality staves and shafts in a single plant than you see here.
