WOOD SPECIES

Cherry

Description:
Natural cherry is one of America’s most prized hardwoods. It has a smooth grain and warm reddish-brown color, harvested from the American black cherry tree. Cherry is celebrated for its graceful aging process—it begins as a soft pink and deepens over time to a rich, reddish hue with a lustrous patina. It is ideal for fine furniture and artisan woodworking.

Scientific Name / Varieties: Prunus serotina (American Black Cherry)

Characteristics:

• Color: Light pink to deep reddish-brown

• Durability: 950 Janka hardness

• Cost: $4 – $9 per board foot

• Common Uses: Fine furniture, cabinetry, turned objects

 

Black Walnut

Description:
Black walnut is a dark, dense hardwood prized for its strength, tight grain, and rich color. Its sapwood ranges from creamy white, while the heartwood is deep chocolate brown. Walnut polishes to a smooth finish and develops a beautiful, lustrous patina over time. It is highly sought after for fine furniture and upscale woodworking.

Scientific Name / Varieties: Juglans nigra (Eastern Black Walnut)

Characteristics:

• Color: Creamy white sapwood to dark chocolate heartwood

• Durability: 1010 Janka hardness

• Cost: $6 – $12 per board foot

• Common Uses: Furniture, cabinets, flooring, gunstocks, high-end woodworking

 

Maple

Description:
Maple is a strong, light-colored hardwood with smooth grain and exceptional durability. The most commonly used variety in the U.S. is hard maple (sugar maple or rock maple). It grows abundantly in the northern U.S. and Canada, and its sap is the source of pure maple syrup. Maple’s subtle beauty and strength make it ideal for furniture and cabinetry.

Scientific Name / Varieties: Acer saccharum (Hard Maple / Sugar Maple / Rock Maple)

Characteristics:

• Color: Creamy white

• Durability: 1450 Janka hardness

• Cost: $3 – $8 per board foot

• Common Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, flooring, millwork

 

Oak

Description:
Oak is a highly durable hardwood with bold, distinctive grain patterns, widely used in furniture and flooring. It is versatile enough for traditional, Craftsman, Mission, and modern designs. Red oak and white oak are the most common U.S. species for furniture, both offering excellent durability for busy homes.

Scientific Name / Varieties: Quercus rubra (Red Oak), Quercus alba (White Oak)

Characteristics:

• Color: Light to medium brown (red oak) or pale brown (white oak)

• Durability: 1290 Janka (Red Oak), 1360 Janka (White Oak)

• Cost: $3 – $7 per board foot

• Common Uses: Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, architectural millwork

 

Ash

Description:
Ash is a light-colored, smooth-grained hardwood with straight grain and warm beige-to-light-brown tones. Lightweight yet strong, it stains well and resists shock, making it ideal for furniture, tool handles, and sports equipment. It has a long history in American furniture making and remains a popular choice for mid-century modern and contemporary designs.

Scientific Name / Varieties: Fraxinus (White Ash, Green Ash)

Characteristics:

• Color: Beige to light brown

• Durability: 1320 Janka hardness

• Cost: $2.50 – $7 per board foot

• Common Uses: Furniture, flooring, cabinets, sports equipment, tool handles

 

Birch

Description:
Birch is a smooth-grained hardwood with a light color similar to maple. Yellow birch, also called golden birch, is the variety most often used for furniture in the U.S. Its light beige-to-brown tones darken subtly over time, adding warmth and character to fine woodworking.

Scientific Name / Varieties: Betula (Yellow Birch, White Birch, Black Birch)

Characteristics:

• Color: Light beige to pale brown

• Durability: 1260 Janka hardness

• Cost: $2 – $6 per board foot

• Common Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, millwork

 

Chestnut

Description:
Chestnut wood comes from a family of trees, with the American chestnut being the most recognized. Its wood ranges from pale white to medium brown and develops a reddish hue with age. Once abundant, durable, and rot-resistant, American chestnut was nicknamed the “redwood of the East.” Many historic pieces crafted over 100 years ago remain intact.

Scientific Name / Varieties: Castanea dentata (American Chestnut)

Characteristics:

• Color: Pale white to medium brown

• Durability: 540 Janka hardness

• Cost: $2 – $5 per board foot

• Common Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, architectural woodwork

 

Poplar

Description:
Poplar is a light, creamy yellow wood that sometimes displays brown tones or colorful mineral streaks, known as “rainbow poplar.” While often used for functional pieces like drawer sides or cabinet interiors, it occasionally appears in artisan furniture where its subtle beauty can shine.

Scientific Name / Varieties: Populus (various species)

Characteristics:

• Color: Creamy yellow to light brown, sometimes streaked

• Durability: 540 Janka hardness

• Cost: $1.50 – $3 per board foot

• Common Uses: Furniture components, cabinetry, moldings, craft projects

 

Eastern White Pine

Description:
Eastern white pine is a soft, light-colored wood with characteristic knots and a creamy to yellowish hue. Its softness makes it less suitable for fine furniture or cabinetry but perfect for rustic or farmhouse-style pieces. Abundant in eastern North America, pine is often reclaimed to create a unique, rustic aesthetic.

Scientific Name / Varieties: Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine)

Characteristics:

• Color: Creamy white to yellowish

• Durability: 380 Janka hardness

• Cost: $1.50 – $4 per board foot

• Common Uses: Rustic furniture, cabinetry, flooring, millwork