When working on any woodworking project, one of the most important decisions you'll make is selecting the right wood species. Each type of wood has its own unique characteristics, including color, grain pattern, texture, and durability. Understanding these qualities will help you choose the best wood for your needs, whether you're building furniture, flooring, or custom wood pieces. In this guide, VINAWOOD will explore some of the most common wood species used in woodworking, their features, and how to choose the right one for your project.
What are wood species?
Wood species are distinct, identifiable types of trees classified by their scientific names (genus and species) and characterized by unique physical and mechanical properties of their wood. These properties dictate how the wood looks, feels, behaves, and performs in various applications.
30 Common wood species
White oak
White oak (Quercus alba) is a durable hardwood native to eastern and central North America. Known for its light gray bark, rounded leaf lobes, and decay-resistant wood, it’s valued for furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and cooperage, especially in barrel-making for aging wines and spirits. It also plays a crucial ecological role, supporting various wildlife species.
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Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra, commonly known as northern red oak, is a widespread and fast-growing oak species native to eastern and central North America. It's a prominent member of the red oak group and is valued for its relatively quick growth, vibrant fall color and versatile wood.
Teak
Teak (Tectona grandis) is a tropical hardwood tree species native to Southeast Asia, renowned for its exceptional durability, water resistance and beautiful grain. It's one of the most valuable and sought-after timbers in the world.
Douglas fir
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is a strong, fast-growing conifer native to western North America. Not a true fir, it’s valued for its straight grain and versatility, producing lightweight lumber used in construction, plywood, millwork, and furniture, making it a key timber species.
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Acer nigrum
Acer nigrum, commonly known as black maple, is a North American maple species closely related to the more familiar sugar maple (Acer saccharum). Often considered a subspecies of sugar maple rather than a distinct species, black maple shares many similar characteristics but exhibits some key differences. It's valued for its timber, which is comparable to sugar maple, and its contribution to vibrant fall foliage displays.
Dalbergia latifolia
Dalbergia latifolia, or Indian rosewood, is a dense, durable wood native to south India, prized for its rich colors and use as a tonewood. Valued in high-end furniture, cabinetry, and musical instruments, it’s now CITES-regulated due to overexploitation, requiring sustainable harvesting.
Silver maple
Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to eastern and central North America, known for its silvery leaf undersides. Though it provides quick shade, its brittle wood makes it weaker than sugar or red maples. Often used for erosion control, its aggressive roots can damage sidewalks and utilities.
Basswood
Basswood (Tilia americana), or American linden, is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to eastern North America. Its lightweight, soft, fine-grained wood is prized by carvers and crafters for its easy workability and smooth finish. Though not strong or durable, its stability makes it ideal for painting and detailed work.
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Ocotea porosa
Ocotea porosa, or Imbuia, is a prized hardwood from southern Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. Its rich color variations and unique figuring make it ideal for furniture, cabinetry, and veneer. With good stability and workability, it remains sought after, though overexploitation has made sustainable sourcing essential.
Hackberry
Hackberry refers to several tree species within the genus Celtis, primarily Celtis occidentalis (Common Hackberry) in North America. It's a medium-sized deciduous tree known for its distinctive warty bark, often described as "hackly." Hackberry wood is relatively soft, lightweight, and not particularly strong or durable, but it's easy to work with and doesn't splinter easily.
It's often used for inexpensive furniture, boxes, crates, and veneer. Hackberry is also a hardy and adaptable tree, often planted as a street tree or windbreak, and its small, berry-like fruits provide food for wildlife.
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Sapele
Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) is a West African hardwood valued for its mahogany-like appearance, workability, and stability. Its reddish-brown color and interlocking grain make it ideal for furniture, cabinetry, veneer, and musical instruments, though machining requires care to prevent tearout.
Black cherry
Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is a valued wood species native to eastern North America, known for its rich reddish-brown heartwood and fine grain. Prized for furniture, cabinetry, and millwork, it offers good stability, smooth texture, and a lustrous patina over time. Easy to work with, it glues and finishes well. Its small dark cherries benefit wildlife and are used in jams and liquors.
European aspen
European aspen (Populus tremula) is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to Europe and Asia, known for its round, trembling leaves. Its soft, lightweight wood is mainly used for pulpwood, particleboard, and matches. Though not prized for lumber, it serves as a vital pioneer species, aiding in habitat restoration.
Camphor tree
The camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) is a wood species native to East Asia, valued for its aromatic, insect-repellent wood. Moderately hard and durable, it is used for chests, cabinetry, and decorative items. Though planted ornamentally, its rapid growth makes it invasive in some regions.
Guibourtia ehie
Guibourtia ehie, commonly known as Ovangkol, is a wood species native to tropical West Africa. As a wood species, Ovangkol is appreciated for its medium density, moderate hardness, and attractive appearance. It typically features a medium to reddish-brown color with distinctive darker figuring, giving it a unique visual appeal. Guibourtia ehie is often used for furniture, cabinetry, veneer, musical instruments (particularly guitar backs and sides), and decorative items. It's considered a stable and workable wood, making it a popular choice for various woodworking applications.
Brazilwood
Brazilwood (Paubrasilia echinata) is a dense, hard wood species native to Brazil, historically valued for its red dye, which influenced the country’s name. Once heavily harvested, it is now primarily used for high-end violin, cello, and viola bows. Due to overexploitation, Brazilwood is endangered and its trade is strictly regulated.
Tieghemella heckelii
Tieghemella heckelii, commonly known as Makoré, is a large evergreen tree native to West Africa. Its heartwood is highly prized and, therefore, significant as a wood species. As a wood species, Makoré is known for its reddish-brown color, fine texture, and interlocked grain, which gives it a lustrous appearance. Tieghemella heckelii is moderately hard, durable, and stable, making it suitable for high-end furniture, cabinetry, veneer, boatbuilding, and musical instruments. It is often used as a substitute for mahogany due to its similar color and working properties.
Coast redwood
Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) is a towering wood species native to California and southwestern Oregon. Its reddish-brown, lightweight, and decay-resistant wood is prized for decking, siding, and furniture. Beyond its value as lumber, coast redwood provides essential wildlife habitat, making conservation efforts vital.
Kentucky coffeetree
Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is a durable wood species native to the central U.S. Its moderately heavy, strong wood features reddish-brown heartwood and straight to interlocked grain. Used for furniture, fence posts, and construction, it is less common due to limited availability and slow growth.
Western redcedar
Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) is a durable wood species from the Pacific Northwest, known for its lightweight, aromatic, and decay-resistant wood. Its straight grain and natural insect resistance make it ideal for siding, decking, and fencing. Traditionally, Indigenous peoples used it for canoes, houses, and ceremonial objects.
Ohio Buckeye
Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra) is a deciduous tree native to the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. While not typically considered a premier timber source, Ohio Buckeye provides a wood species that is relatively soft, lightweight, and close-grained, making it easy to work with. As a wood species, Ohio Buckeye is light cream to yellowish-white in color, and it's primarily used for applications where strength is not a primary concern, such as crates, pallets, pulpwood, and some turned objects. The tree is better known for its iconic status as the state tree of Ohio and its distinctive palmately compound leaves and buckeye nuts.
Eucalyptus grandis
Eucalyptus grandis, or rose gum, is a fast-growing wood species native to eastern Australia. Its moderately hard, pinkish to reddish-brown wood is used for construction, furniture, flooring, and paper. Widely planted worldwide, it requires sustainable management to mitigate environmental impacts like soil erosion and water depletion.
Narra
Narra refers to several wood species in the Pterocarpus genus, primarily Pterocarpus indicus. This durable, termite-resistant wood ranges from yellow to reddish-brown and is prized for furniture, cabinetry, veneer, and musical instruments. With its striking grain patterns, Narra is highly valued, though sustainable harvesting is crucial due to overexploitation risks.
Butternut
Butternut (Juglans cinerea), also known as white walnut, is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It's related to black walnut but has a lighter-colored, softer, and less dense wood. Butternut wood is creamy white to light brown, with a soft, silky texture and attractive grain patterns. It's easy to work with, machines well, and takes finishes beautifully, making it a popular choice for carving, furniture, and millwork. Butternut is also known for its edible nuts, which are smaller and oilier than black walnuts. Unfortunately, butternut populations have been severely impacted by butternut canker, a fungal disease that has led to widespread tree mortality.
Dalbergia maritima
Dalbergia maritima, or Madagascar rosewood, is a prized wood species endemic to Madagascar. Its dense, durable wood ranges from pinkish-red to dark reddish-brown with striking grain patterns. Used for high-end furniture, musical instruments, and carving, it faces threats from overexploitation, making sustainable sourcing essential.
Aniba rosaeodora
Aniba rosaeodora, commonly known as rosewood or Brazilian rosewood (though it's not a Dalbergia rosewood), is an evergreen tree native to the Amazon rainforest. It's primarily known for its highly fragrant wood, which contains a valuable essential oil called rosewood oil. This oil is used in perfumery, cosmetics, and aromatherapy for its sweet, floral scent. While the wood itself is also attractive, with a pinkish-brown color and fine texture, it's primarily harvested for its oil content. Due to overexploitation for its essential oil, Aniba rosaeodora is now considered a threatened species, and efforts are underway to promote sustainable harvesting and alternative sources of rosewood oil.
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) is a valued wood species native to southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. Its pale yellow, fine-grained, and decay-resistant wood is lightweight yet strong, making it ideal for shipbuilding, pattern making, siding, and paneling. Due to limited availability, its use is often restricted.
Tree of heaven
Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a fast-growing, invasive wood species with light, soft, and coarse-grained wood. Though generally unsuitable for fine woodworking, it has been used for crates, pallets, and pulpwood. Its aggressive growth and allelopathic properties make it difficult to control.
Combretum imberbe
Leadwood (Combretum imberbe) is an exceptionally dense and durable wood species native to southern and eastern Africa. Its dark brown to nearly black heartwood is highly resistant to termites and decay, making it ideal for fence posts, railway sleepers, and specialty carvings. Due to slow growth and high demand, it is protected in some regions.
White ash
White ash (Fraxinus americana) is a durable wood species valued for its strength, toughness, and shock resistance. Its straight-grained, light-colored wood is used for baseball bats, tool handles, furniture, and sports equipment. However, its populations are declining due to the invasive emerald ash borer.
Wood species identification
Color
Wood color is a key indicator for identifying species, though it can vary depending on age, exposure, and environmental conditions.
For example, oak ranges from pale yellow-brown to reddish-brown, with white oak being lighter and red oak having a more distinct reddish tint. Mahogany is characterized by its rich reddish-brown color, which darkens with age. Maple typically appears light and creamy, with red maple showing a hint of pink. Cherry starts as pale pinkish-brown and deepens to a rich reddish-brown over time, while walnut is known for its dark brown to purplish hues, often with lighter streaks. These color variations, along with the wood's grain and texture, can help distinguish different species.
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Grain Pattern
Wood grain patterns are a crucial factor in identifying wood species. For example, oak has a prominent, open grain with visible pores and a straight or slightly wavy pattern. Maple typically features a fine, straight grain, but can show curly or wavy patterns, especially in curly maple. Mahogany tends to have a fine, straight grain, often with slight waviness, while cherry has a smooth, straight to slightly wavy grain that deepens in color over time. Walnut’s grain is usually straight but can include intricate patterns like burls or swirls. Pine has a lighter, more open grain with visible knots, while ash displays a coarser, open grain pattern. These variations in grain help distinguish one wood species from another.
Hardness
Wood hardness is an important factor in identifying wood species, as it can significantly influence the wood's durability and workability. Hardwoods, like oak, maple, and walnut, tend to be denser and harder, making them suitable for furniture, flooring, and other durable applications. For example, oak and maple are known for their toughness, while walnut is slightly softer but still dense and strong.
On the other hand, softwoods such as pine and cedar are lighter and easier to work with, making them ideal for construction and less demanding applications. Testing a wood's resistance to indentation or using the Janka hardness test can provide useful insights into its species, as harder woods are more resistant to wear and tear.
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Texture
Wood texture plays a key role in identifying different wood species, as it affects both the wood's appearance and its feel. Woods with a fine, smooth texture, such as maple and cherry, are often used in fine furniture and cabinetry, offering a polished finish. Hardwoods like oak and ash tend to have a more pronounced texture, with visible pores and a coarser feel. Softwoods such as pine have a relatively smoother texture but can feel more resinous or fibrous compared to hardwoods. The texture of a wood, whether fine, coarse, or smooth, combined with its grain pattern, can provide crucial clues for identification, particularly when considering how the wood absorbs finishes or feels to the touch.
Smell
The smell of wood can be a distinct and helpful characteristic for identifying species. Many woods release unique, often pleasant aromas when freshly cut or worked. For example, cedar has a strong, aromatic scent that is commonly used in closets and furniture to repel insects. Pine tends to have a fresh, resinous smell, often evoking a forest-like fragrance. Mahogany and cherry may release a subtle, sweet scent, while oak often has a more neutral or earthy smell. The distinctive odors of different woods can be used as an additional clue for identification, especially when combined with other characteristics like grain and color.
Weight
Wood weight is a useful indicator for identifying species, as it is often related to the wood's density and hardness. Hardwoods like oak, maple, and walnut are typically heavier due to their denser structure, making them more durable and suitable for furniture and flooring. Softwoods such as pine and cedar are lighter, as they have a less dense structure, which makes them easier to work with and often used for construction and general carpentry. Weighing a piece of wood can help determine its relative density and hardness, offering valuable insights into its species, especially when combined with other features like grain pattern and color.
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Endgrain Characteristics
Endgrain characteristics are crucial for identifying wood species, as they reveal key structural features of the wood. Hardwoods typically have visible pores or vessels in the endgrain, which are often larger and more distinct, such as in oak, where the pores are easy to spot. Softwoods, on the other hand, usually have a more uniform endgrain with no visible pores. Some woods, like oak, also show distinct ray flecks in the endgrain, especially when cut in a radial plane. The pattern of the growth rings and the size and distribution of pores and rays can provide valuable clues, helping distinguish between species with similar appearances in their surface grain.
Other Features
Other features, such as the presence of pores or vessels and ray flecks, can also aid in wood species identification. Hardwoods typically have visible pores or vessels in the end grain, which are absent in softwoods. These pores are often larger and more distinct in species like oak and maple. Additionally, some species, particularly oak and maple, display visible ray flecks when the wood is cut on a radial plane, giving the wood a unique pattern. These features, along with other characteristics, help to differentiate hardwoods from softwoods and identify specific species.
What are the exotic wood species?
Exotic wood species refer to woods that are not commonly found in a particular region or country, typically harvested from tropical or subtropical areas. These woods are often prized for their unique colors, patterns, textures, and durability, making them popular in high-end furniture, cabinetry, and decorative items.
Some well-known exotic wood species include:
- Rosewood (Dalbergia species):Known for its rich, dark brown to purplish color with darker streaks, rosewood is dense, durable, and has a beautiful grain pattern. It is often used in high-end furniture, musical instruments, and cabinetry.
- Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla): A highly prized wood with a reddish-brown to dark brown color, mahogany is known for its fine grain and excellent workability. It’s often used for luxury furniture and boats.
- Teak (Tectona grandis): Teak is famous for its durability, resistance to moisture, and beautiful golden-brown color. It’s commonly used for outdoor furniture and boat decks due to its weather resistance.
- Ebony (Diospyros species): Ebony is one of the densest and darkest woods available, ranging from deep black to dark brown. It is used for intricate carvings, fine furniture, and musical instruments.
- Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum species): Known for its dense, heavy nature and striking greenish-brown color, lignum vitae is used in heavy-duty applications, including bearings and shipbuilding, due to its natural oils and strength.
- Purpleheart (Peltogyne spp.): Purpleheart is known for its vibrant purple color that deepens with age. It’s used in furniture, flooring, and decorative items due to its striking appearance and durability.
- Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum): A member of the mahogany family, sapele has a reddish-brown color and a fine, interlocking grain. It is often used as a substitute for mahogany in fine woodworking and cabinetry.
- Zebrawood (Microberlinia brazzavillensis): Zebrawood has a distinctive striped pattern, with alternating light and dark bands resembling zebra stripes. It is used for decorative veneers, furniture, and paneling.
- Bubinga (Guibourtia tessmannii): Bubinga is known for its reddish-brown to purple color and striking grain patterns, making it popular for high-end furniture, veneers, and musical instruments.
- Bloodwood (Brosimum rubescens): With a deep red color that darkens over time, bloodwood is dense, durable, and often used for fine furniture, flooring, and turnings.
These exotic woods are often harvested from tropical regions, and due to their beauty and durability, they can be more expensive than domestic hardwoods. However, due to concerns over deforestation and sustainability, some of these woods are now subject to international regulations such as CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
In conclusion, understanding the characteristics of common wood species is essential for anyone working with wood, whether in carpentry, furniture making, or design. Each species offers unique attributes, such as color, grain pattern, texture, and hardness, which influence its suitability for various projects. Whether you're choosing a durable hardwood like oak or a versatile softwood like pine, knowing how to identify and select the right wood can enhance the quality and longevity of your work. By familiarizing yourself with these key wood species, you'll be able to make informed decisions that align with both aesthetic and functional needs.
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