Identification of the Most Common Hardwoods

NORTHERN RED OAK (Quercus rubra)

Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Red Oak grows throughout the eastern half of North America, from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, and south to Florida and Texas. Northern Red Oak is a large tree, somewhat softer than White Oak, but highly valued for its timber. The tree has a distinctive leaf shape that can be used to identify it in the forest. Leaves are arranged alternately on the stem and have 7-9 lobes separated by deep sinuses radiating down the midrib of the leaf.

WHITE OAK (Quercus alba)

White oak is very versatile and can be used in many different ways. Woodworkers love white oak because it’s a hardwood that saws, sands, machines and finishes well. White oak heartwood is light to medium brown with a grayish cast. The sapwood is white to light brown. Quarter-sawn surfaces have prominent rays that are referred to as “fleck.” White oak has good resistance to decay and takes stains well, so it’s often used for furniture, cabinets, molding and other architectural uses such as floors and doors.

Color: Heartwood: Light to medium brown with a grayish cast; Sapwood: White to light brown

RED OAK (Quercus rubra)

• Common Names: red oak, northern red oak
• Other Characteristics: Red Oak is very similar to White Oak in appearance except that the rays are shorter.
• Grain/Texture: Grain is straight, but may be wavy or interlocked. Large pores give coarse texture.
• Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light brown to brown; color darkens with age and exposure. Sapwood is white to light brown in color and can be up to 4″ wide.

SUGAR MAPLE (Acer saccharum)

Grows commonly in northeastern North America.

Has a pale creamy white to light reddish brown heartwood and a white sapwood. Sap can be tapped to make maple syrup, though sugar maple is not the most efficient species for this purpose!

Used for furniture, flooring, cabinets, musical instruments (violins and cellos), butcher blocks and cutting boards, workbenches, sports equipment (pool cues), toys (tops) and even boats!

DOUGLAS FIR (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

A few years ago, we got into a disagreement with our friend in the woods. He had a blue flash of realization that would change his life forever: “I know what’s wrong with you,” he said. “Your heartwood is too red. You need to be more like Douglas fir.” It took us about a year to realize what he was talking about—although it turns out our friend was right!

Douglas fir is one of the softest and lightest timbers on the planet, making it perfect for woodworking (and creative projects). It has alternating bands of light and dark fibers, giving it the appearance of being solid wood from afar, but giving it its signature wood grain when viewed up close. The fact that Douglas fir grows in areas where other trees don’t is also part of its appeal—it’s extremely durable without being rigid or brittle. According to logger Doug Anderson, who helped us research this article, “It just breaks down when you chop it—that’s why you can make piles out of it, burn it up so easily.”

CHERRY (Prunus serotina)

• Cherry is one of the most common hardwoods. It’s light reddish brown in color and can be used for furniture, paneling, flooring and cabinetry.

HARD MAPLE (Acer saccharum)

Hard maple is one of the most popular species used for hardwood flooring in North America. It has a creamy white sapwood and a light reddish brown heartwood. The grain is usually straight, but can be wavy or irregular with burls and mineral streaks. Hard Maple is extremely heavy, hard, strong and stiff, making it ideal for shock resistance, impact resistance and wear resistance. Hard maple is widely used for furniture, flooring (including bowling alleys), butcher blocks as well as for such things as tool handles and baseball bats.

ASH (Fraxinus spp.)

• Ash trees are often found in groups, or where you might find willows.
• Ash trees are often found near rivers, streams, or other water sources.

Here are just a few of the most common hardwoods that you might find in your area.

This list is not comprehensive, but it does contain many of the most common hardwoods found in North America. You should be able to find all of these trees within a few hours’ drive from your home. Most people own a few acres where they can cut down dead or unwanted trees, so talk to a few landowners and see if you can go hunting for some wood. It’s always good to have permission before you start cutting trees!

Hard Maple (Acer saccharum)

• Height: 80 to 120 feet tall
• Leaves: 3 to 5 lobed leaves that are dark green in color with rough-textured upper surfaces and smooth under sides. They turn yellow, orange and red in fall.
• Fruit: small keys that hang in clusters on the branches; they ripen by late summer when they fall off the tree still connected by their stems which form an “X” shape when viewed at close range
• Range: Eastern half of North America; common in New York State but also found throughout Maine, Vermont, New Jersey and Pennsylvania
• Uses: furniture making and flooring because its wood is very hard; also used for butcher blocks