North American Hardwoods List
Wood hardness chart species alphabetical hardness species by hardness hardness mahogany honduran 800 padauk 1725 mahogany santos 2200 tabaccowood 1750 maple hard north american 1450 rosewood bolivian 1780 maple ivory 1500 bamboo carbonized 1800 maple soft 999 hickory 1820 merbau 1925 pecan 1820 mesquite 2345 yellowheart 1820.
North american hardwoods list. This guide features 20 of the most abundant and most often used hardwood species. Most common hardwoods unlike the conifers or softwood firs spruce and pines hardwood trees have evolved into a broad array of common species. Hardwood forests naturally regenerate themselves and do not require planting. This provides a sustainable supply and ensures the overall health of the forest including water.
North american hardwoods are among the most plentiful and well managed natural resources in the world. How many of the 10 most common hardwood trees could you identify by the leaves. Types of wood comparing american hardwoods softwoods and tropical hardwoods. This wood is almost always labeled as white oak in the market.
As a resource american hardwoods are abundant renewing and sustainable and an excellent choice for eco effective design and building. In addition to the basics where they grow general description and abundance. The bur oak is the most common oak in america and it can grow to a height of 160 feet tall and 8 feet wide. The guide to american hardwood species.
Most taxa listed are temperate species native to north america north of mexico but some e g mesquite could be considered tropical and have distributions that extend into mexico. An extensive treatment of the many tropical hardwoods native to mexico and central america is beyond the scope of this publication. Hardwood lumber north american species from the forests of the eastern usa or the west coast baillie can provide all the hardwood lumber species qualities and quantities you need. Bur oak more than 52 of all hardwoods in north america are oak trees.
The wood from hardwood trees tends to be harder because the trees grow at a slower rate giving the wood its greater density. The preferred method of harvesting is single tree selection.