The fastest natural cover to attract crappie hands down is willow , it won't last in the water very long though , very soft and may be almost gone by the end of the second year or sooner . The in the know folks around here say the best ever is a big oak with large limbs if you want to hold big crappie and it will last a very long time . As for Myself I sink whatever I can on natural cover , I pay no attention to what wood and lean towards will it make good cover to drop a jig in and hold crappie as well . ...the cedar is poisonous claims I have seen best I can tell is fictitious and I know the state puts cedar in some of the state parks as well .
My take on it