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Common Name(s): Aromatic Red Cedar, Eastern Redcedar
Scientific Name: Juniperus virginiana
Distribution: Eastern North America
Tree Size: 100-115 ft (30-35 m) tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 33 lbs/ft³ (530 kg/m³)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .44, .53
Janka Hardness: 900 lbf (4,000 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 8,800 lbf/in² (60.7 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 880,000 lbf/in² (6.07 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 6,020 lbf/in² (41.5 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 3.1%, Tangential: 4.7%, Volumetric: 7.8%, T/R Ratio: 1.5

Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to be a reddish or violet-brown. Sapwood is a pale yellow color, and can appear throughout the heartwood as streaks and stripes.
Grain/Texture: Has a straight grain, usually with knots present. Has a very fine even texture.
Endgrain: Resin canals absent; earlywood to latewood transition gradual, grain moderately uneven to moderately even; tracheid diameter small to very small; zonate parenchyma (double ring).
Rot Resistance: Regarded as excellent in resistance to both decay and insect attack, Aromatic Red Cedar is frequently used for fence posts used in direct ground contact with no pre-treating of the wood.
Workability: Overall, Aromatic Red Cedar is easy to work, notwithstanding any knots or irregularities present in the wood. It reportedly has a high silica content, which can dull cutters. Aromatic Red Cedar glues and finishes well, though in many applications, the wood is left unfinished to preserve its aromatic properties.
Odor: Aromatic Red Cedar has a distinct and tell-tale scent: the wood is commonly used in closets and chests to repel moths and other insects.
Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Aromatic Red Cedar has been reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Pricing/Availability: Large and/or clear sections of Aromatic Red Cedar are much less common, but smaller, narrower boards with knots present are readily available at a modest price.
Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.
Common Uses: Fence posts, closet and chest linings, carvings, outdoor furniture, birdhouses, pencils, bows, and small wooden specialty items.
Comments: Although Aromatic Red Cedar is included in the cypress family (Cupressaceae) which includes many species of cedar, it’s perhaps more closely related in junipers in the genus Juniperus. In tree form, it is more commonly called Eastern Redcedar, while the wood itself is usually referred to as Aromatic Red Cedar.

Though Eastern Redcedar trees are widely distributed throughout the eastern half of the United States, it is a very slow-growing species, and most trees harvested tend to be fairly small in diameter. Because of this, Aromatic Red Cedar boards tend to be knotty and narrow.
Related Species:

African Juniper (Juniperus procera)

Alligator Juniper (Juniperus deppeana)

Southern Redcedar (Juniperus silicicola)

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Common Name(s): Eastern redbud, Judas-tree, American redbud

Scientific Name: Cercis canadensis

Distribution: Eastern North America

Tree Size: 30-50 ft (10-15 m) tall,

6-12 in (15-30 cm) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 47.0 lbs/ft³ (755 kg/m³)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .63, .75

Janka Hardness: 1,660 lbf (7,400 N)*

*Estimated hardness based on specific gravity.

Modulus of Rupture: No data available.

Elastic Modulus: No data available.

Crushing Strength: No data available.

Shrinkage: No data available.

More images |  Identification

Color/Appearance: Heartwood ranges from a golden brown to a darker reddish brown, sometimes with a streaked appearance. Can have a greenish olive cast, especially when freshly sawn. Colors tend to darken and redden over time. Pale white sapwood is clearly demarcated from the heartwood. Burls on the trunk not too uncommon.

Grain/Texture: Medium to fine texture and straight grain. Good natural luster.

Rot Resistance: Rated as very durable. No information on insect or borer resistance.

Workability: Easy to work with both hand and machine tools. Turns, glues, and finishes well.

Odor: No characteristic odor.

Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with eastern redbud—possibly due to its relative obscurity. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Due to the small size of the tree, eastern redbud is not a commercial species. Since the tree is such a widespread ornamental species, there may be intermittent availability from specialist, urban, or hobbyist-oriented sawyers.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.

Common Uses: Boxes, carvings, turned objects, and small specialty wood items.

Comments: Named for its vivid pinkish-red flowers which bloom in spring, eastern redbud is a popular ornamental tree. Most hobbyist wood occurs as storm-damaged or otherwise felled ornamentals. The wood can be of good quality and visual interest, though since the trees tend to be so small, little commercial potential exists and the wood is seldom seen.

The tree is sometimes known by the name Judas-tree. This is in reference to the related species, Cercis siliquastrum, native to Europe and Asia. According to folklore, this species was the tree that Judas Iscariot used to hang himself after betraying Jesus.

Eastern redbud is also the state tree of Oklahoma.

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Common Name(s): Mulberry
Scientific Name: Morus spp. (Morus alba, M. nigra, M. rubra, etc.)
Distribution: Red Mulberry is native to Eastern North America, other species are found worldwide
Tree Size: 30-50 ft (10-15 m) tall, 1-1.5 ft (.3-.5 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 43 lbs/ft³ (690 kg/m³)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .55, .69
Janka Hardness: 1,680 lbf (7,470 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 11,680 lbf/in² (80.6 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,352,000 lbf/in² (9.32 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 6,990 lbf/in² (48.2 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 3.3%, Tangential: 6.6%, Volumetric: 10.3%, T/R Ratio: 2.0

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a golden brown, darkening to a medium/reddish brown with age. Sapwood is a pale yellowish white. Overall appearance is very similar to Osage Orange.

Grain/Texture: Grain is straight, with a uniform medium texture. Good natural luster.

Endgrain: Ring-porous; large earlywood pores 2-5 rows wide, small latewood pores in clusters and tangential bands; tyloses and other gum deposits common; parenchyma vasicentric, aliform, and confluent; medium to wide rays, spacing normal.

Rot Resistance: Rated as very durable, with good insect resistance and weathering properties.

Workability: Responds well to both hand and machine tools. Turns, glues, and finishes well.

Odor: No characteristic odor.

Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Mulberry. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Due to its small size and scattered distribution, Mulberry is seldom if ever harvested commercially for lumber. Smaller pieces are sometimes available locally throughout the tree’s natural range. Expect prices to be high for a domestic hardwood.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Common Uses: Fence posts, furniture, and turned objects.

Comments: Mulberry species are perhaps better known for their edible fruit. The leaves of White Mulberry (Morus alba) are also the primary food source for the silkworm (Bombyx mori), which is used to produce silk.

The wood itself looks very similar to Osage Orange, though Mulberry tends to be significantly lighter. Black Locust also bears a close resemblance to Mulberry, and it’s weight is only slightly higher than Mulberry’s. However, the two may be easily separated with a blacklight, as Mulberry is non-fluorescent, while Black Locust is highly fluorescent under a blacklight (see video below).

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Common Name(s): Persimmon, White Ebony
Scientific Name: Diospyros virginiana
Distribution: Eastern United States
Tree Size: 60-80 ft (18-24 m) tall, 1-2 ft (.3-.6 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 52 lbs/ft³ (835 kg/m³)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .74, .83
Janka Hardness: 2,300 lbf (10,230 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 17,700 lbf/in² (122.1 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 2,010,000 lbf/in² (13.86 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 9,170 lbf/in² (63.2 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 7.9%, Tangential: 11.2%, Volumetric: 19.1%, T/R Ratio: 1.4

Color/Appearance: Very wide sapwood is a white to pale yellowish-brown. Color tends to darken with age. Very thin heartwood (usually less than 1″ wide) is dark brown to black, similar to ebony. (Persimmon is in the same genus—Diospyros—as true ebonies.)
Grain/Texture: Grain is straight, with a uniform medium-coarse texture.
Endgrain: Semi-ring-porous; medium-large earlywood pores sometimes form broken rows, latewood pores medium-small; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; growth rings usually distinct; rays not visible without lens; parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates, vasicentric, and banded (reticulate and marginal).
Rot Resistance: Being that nearly all of Persimmon is sapwood, it is rated as perishable and is susceptible to insect attack.
Workability: Overall workability is so-so. Persimmon generally responds well to hand tools, but can be difficult to plane and blunts cutting edges faster than expected. Turns and finishes well.
Odor: No characteristic odor.
Allergies/Toxicity: Persimmon has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Pricing/Availability: Not commonly available in lumber form, Persimmon may occasionally be seen in smaller blocks or turning blanks. Expect prices to be high for a domestic species.
Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Common Uses: Turned objects, golf club heads, veneer, and other small specialty wood items.
Comments: Persimmon trees are known much more commonly for their fruit, and not their wood. Persimmon is technically related to true ebonies (Diospyros genus), and is therefore sometimes referred to as “white ebony.”

Persimmon wood is heavy, hard, and strong for a temperate species. It has excellent shock and wear resistance, but has a very high shrinkage rate, and may experience significant movement in service.
Related Species:

Black and White Ebony (Diospyros spp.)

Ceylon Ebony (Diospyros ebenum)

Gaboon Ebony (Diospyros crassiflora)

Macassar Ebony (Diospyros celebica)

Malaysian Blackwood (Diospyros ebonasea)

Mun Ebony (Diospyros mun)

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Common Name(s): Cedar Elm
Scientific Name: Ulmus crassifolia
Distribution: South-central North America
Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 41 lbs/ft³ (655 kg/m³)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .54, .66
Janka Hardness: 1,320 lbf (5,870 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 13,500 lbf/in² (93.1 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,480,000 lbf/in² (10.21 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 6,020 lbf/in² (41.5 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 4.7%, Tangential: 10.2%, Volumetric: 15.4%, T/R Ratio: 2.2

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light to medium reddish brown. Paler sapwood is usually well defined.
Grain/Texture: Grain is interlocked (making it very resistant to splitting). With a somewhat coarse, uneven texture.
Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable; susceptible to insect attack. Living trees are susceptible to Dutch elm disease.
Workability: Can be a challenge to work because of interlocked grain, especially on quartersawn surfaces. Planing can cause tearout and/or fuzzy surfaces. Poor dimensional stability. Glues, stains, and finishes well. Responds well to steam bending, and holds nails and screws well.
Odor: Elm usually has a strong, unpleasant smell when green; though once dried has very little odor.
Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Elm in the Ulmus genus has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Pricing/Availability: Should be moderately priced, though availability from mature trees has been greatly diminished by Dutch elm disease.
Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Common Uses: Boxes, baskets, furniture, hockey sticks, veneer, wood pulp, and papermaking.
Comments: Elm trees are commonly infected with Dutch elm disease, a fungal disease spread by elm bark beetles. D.E.D. has wiped out millions of Elm trees worldwide.
Related Species:

American Elm (Ulmus americana)

Carpathian Elm (Ulmus procera)

Dutch Elm (Ulmus x hollandica)

English Elm (Ulmus procera)

Red Elm (Ulmus rubra)

Rock Elm (Ulmus thomasii)

Winged Elm (Ulmus alata)

Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra)

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Common Name(s): American Elm, Soft Elm, Water Elm

Scientific Name: Ulmus americana

Distribution: Eastern to Midwest United States

Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 35 lbs/ft³ (560 kg/m³)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .47, .56

Janka Hardness: 830 lbf (3,690 N)

Modulus of Rupture: 11,800 lbf/in² (81.4 MPa)

Elastic Modulus: 1,340,000 lbf/in² (9.24 GPa)

Crushing Strength: 5,520 lbf/in² (38.1 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.2%, Tangential: 9.5%, Volumetric: 14.6%, T/R Ratio: 2.3

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light to medium reddish brown. Paler sapwood is usually well defined.
Grain/Texture: Grain is interlocked (making it very resistant to splitting). With a somewhat coarse, uneven texture.
Endgrain: Ring-porous; large to very large earlywood pores in a continuous row one or two pores wide, small latewood pores in wavy bands; tyloses occasionally present in earlywood; growth rings distinct; parenchyma vasicentric and confluent; medium rays, spacing normal.
Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable; susceptible to insect attack. Living trees are susceptible to Dutch elm disease.
Workability: Can be a challenge to work because of interlocked grain, especially on quartersawn surfaces. Planing can cause tearout and/or fuzzy surfaces. Poor dimensional stability. Glues, stains, and finishes well. Responds well to steam bending, and holds nails and screws well.
Odor: Elm usually has a strong, unpleasant smell when green; though once dried has very little odor.
Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Elm  in the Ulmus genus has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Pricing/Availability: Should be moderately priced, though availability from mature trees has been greatly diminished by Dutch elm disease.
Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Common Uses: Boxes, baskets, furniture, hockey sticks, veneer, wood pulp, and papermaking.
Comments: Once one of the largest and most prevalent of the North American elm species, preferred as an ideal shade tree for urban roadsides. American Elm is especially susceptible to Dutch elm disease, and was ravaged by the fungal disease in the second half of the twentieth century. Because the tree is fast growing and bears seeds at a young age, it has been able to continue in areas where older trees have died, though the newer elms also succumb to the disease at a relatively young age. Consequently, large and mature American Elms are  uncommon. Many disease-resistant cultivars and hybrids are being used to replace trees killed by Dutch elm disease.
Related Species:

Carpathian Elm (Ulmus procera)

Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia)

Dutch Elm (Ulmus x hollandica)

English Elm (Ulmus procera)

Red Elm (Ulmus rubra)

Rock Elm (Ulmus thomasii)

Winged Elm (Ulmus alata)

Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra)

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Common Name(s): Southern Red Oak, Spanish Oak
Scientific Name: Quercus falcata
Distribution: Southeastern United States
Tree Size: 80-100 ft (25-30 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 42 lbs/ft³ (675 kg/m³)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .52, .68
Janka Hardness: 1,060 lbf (4,720 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 12,040 lbf/in² (83.0 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,480,000 lbf/in² (10.20 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 6,090 lbf/in² (42.0 MPa)
Shrinkage:Radial: 4.7%, Tangential: 11.3%, Volumetric: 16.1%, T/R Ratio: 2.4

Color/Appearance: Has a light to medium reddish-brown color, though there can be a fair amount of variation in color. Conversely, White Oak tends to be slightly more olive-colored, but is by no means a reliable method of determining the type of oak.

Grain/Texture: Has medium-to-large pores and a fairly coarse grain.

Rot Resistance: Red oaks such as Southern Red Oak do not have the level of decay and rot resistance that White Oaks possess. Durability should be considered minimal.

Workability: Easy to glue, and takes stain and finishes very well.

Odor: Has a tell-tale smell that is common to most oaks. Most find it appealing.

Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, oak has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation, as well as asthma-like symptoms. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Slightly less expensive than White Oak, Red Oak is in good/sustainable supply and is moderately priced. Thicker 8/4 planks, or quartersawn boards are slightly more expensive per board foot.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Common Uses: Cabinetry, furniture, interior trim, flooring, and veneer.

Comments: Southern Red Oak falls into the red oak group, and shares many of the same traits as Red Oak (Quercus rubra). It’s considered to be somewhat inferior to Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra), and the mechanical data listed above corroborates this notion.

Related Species:

Black Oak (Quercus velutina)

Bog Oak

Brown Oak

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii)

Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda)

Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus)

English Oak (Quercus robur)

Holm Oak (Quercus ilex)

Japanese Oak (Quercus mongolica)

Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia)

Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)

Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana)

Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata)

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)

Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea)

Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris)

Water Oak (Quercus nigra)

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)

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Common Name(s): Bur Oak, Burr Oak, Mossycup Oak
Scientific Name: Quercus macrocarpa
Distribution: Eastern and Midwestern United States and south-central Canada
Tree Size: 80-100 ft (24-30 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 45 lbs/ft³ (725 kg/m³)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .57, .72
Janka Hardness: 1,360 lbf (6,030 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 10,920 lbf/in² (75.3 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,040,000 lbf/in² (7.17 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 5,890 lbf/in² (40.6 MPa)
Shrinkage:Radial: 4.4%, Tangential: 8.8%, Volumetric: 12.7%, T/R Ratio: 2.0

Color/Appearance: Has a light to medium brown color, though there can be a fair amount of variation in color. Conversely, Red Oak tends to be slightly redder, but is by no means a reliable method of determining the type of Oak.

Grain/Texture: Has medium-to-large pores and a fairly coarse grain.

Endgrain: Ring-porous; 2-4 rows of large, exclusively solitary earlywood pores, numerous small to very small latewood pores in radial arrangement; tyloses abundant; growth rings distinct; rays large and visible without lens; apotracheal parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates (short lines between rays).

Rot Resistance: Bur Oak has been rated as having very good resistance to decay.

Workability: Easy to glue, and takes stain and finishes very well.

Odor: Has a tell-tale smell that is common to most oaks. Most find it appealing.

Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, oak has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation, as well as asthma-like symptoms. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Slightly more expensive than Red Oak, White Oak is in good/sustainable supply and is moderately priced. Thicker 8/4 planks, or quartersawn boards are slightly more expensive per board foot.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.

Common Uses: Cabinetry, furniture, interior trim, flooring, boatbuilding, barrels, and veneer.

Comments: Bur Oak falls into the white oak group, and shares many of the same traits as White Oak (Quercus alba). White Oak, along with its brother Red Oak, are commonly used domestic lumber species. Hard, durable, and moderately priced, White Oak presents an exceptional value to woodworkers—which explains why it is so widely used in cabinet and furniture making.

Related Species:

Black Oak (Quercus velutina)

Bog Oak

Brown Oak

California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii)

Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda)

Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus)

English Oak (Quercus robur)

Holm Oak (Quercus ilex)

Japanese Oak (Quercus mongolica)

Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia)

Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)

Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana)

Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata)

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)

Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea)

Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)

Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris)

Water Oak (Quercus nigra)

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)

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Common Name(s): Eastern Cottonwood
Scientific Name: Populus deltoides
Distribution: Central and eastern United States
Tree Size: 100-165 ft (30-50 m) tall, 4-6 ft (1.2-2.0 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 28 lbs/ft³ (450 kg/m³)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .37, .45
Janka Hardness: 430 lbf (1,910 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 8,500 lbf/in² (58.6 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,370,000 lbf/in² (9.45 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 4,910 lbf/in² (33.9 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 3.9 %, Tangential: 9.2%, Volumetric: 13.9%, T/R Ratio: 2.4

Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to be a light brown. Sapwood is a pale yellow to nearly white, and isn’t clearly demarcated, tending to gradually blend into the heartwood.
Grain/Texture: Grain is generally straight to slightly irregular or interlocked. Uniform medium texture with low natural luster.
Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; solitary and radial multiples; medium pores in no specific arrangement, moderately numerous to numerous; parenchyma marginal; narrow rays, spacing fairly close.
Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable, and also susceptible to insect attack.
Workability: Easy to work with hand and machine tools, though sharp cutters are necessary when planing to avoid fuzzy surfaces, (subsequent fine-sanding may be necessary to obtain a smooth surface). Responds poorly to steam bending. Does not split easily, and has poor nail-holding capability. Wood has a tendency to warp and distort during drying. Glues and finishes well.
Odor: Has a sour odor when green, which disappears once the wood is dry.
Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Eastern Cottonwood. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Pricing/Availability: Cottonwood is generally regarded as low-value wood, and isn’t commonly harvested or available as lumber—though it can usually be found throughout its natural range for utility purposes. Carving blocks or burl blanks are sometimes available for hobbyist purposes. Prices are low for a domestic hardwood.
Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Common Uses: Boxes/crates, veneer, plywood, and various utility purposes.
Comments: So named for its cotton-like strands that accompany the tree’s seeds in the spring. Eastern Cottonwood is the state tree of Kansas and Nebraska, and is sometimes called the pioneer of the prairie; pioneers on the Oregon Trail would look for such trees, as their shade and firewood was a welcome respite, and their presence usually meant that water was nearby.
Related Species:

White Poplar (Populus alba)

Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera)

Bigtooth Aspen (Populus grandidentata)

Black Poplar (Populus nigra)

European Aspen (Populus tremula)

Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)

Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)

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Common Name(s): Sycamore, American Plane
Scientific Name: Platanus occidentalis
Distribution: Eastern United States
Tree Size: 75-120 ft (23-37 m) tall, 3-8 ft (1-2.4 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 34 lbs/ft³ (545 kg/m³)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .46, .55
Janka Hardness: 770 lbf (3,430 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 10,000 lbf/in² (69.0 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,420,000 lbf/in² (9.79 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 5,380 lbf/in² (37.1 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 5.0%, Tangential: 8.4%, Volumetric: 14.1%, T/R Ratio: 1.7

Color/Appearance: Similar to maple, the wood of Sycamore trees is predominantly comprised of the sapwood, with some darker heartwood streaks also found in most boards. (Though it is not uncommon to also see entire boards of heartwood too.) The sapwood is white to light tan, while the heartwood is a darker reddish brown. Sycamore also has very distinct ray flecks present on quartersawn surfaces—giving it a freckled appearance—and it is sometimes even called “Lacewood.”

Grain/Texture: Sycamore has a fine and even texture that is very similar to maple. The grain is interlocked.

Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; small to medium pores, numerous; solitary and in radial multiples and clusters; tyloses occasionally present, though not easily seen with lens; growth rings distinct due to lighter color of latewood and decreased pore frequency; medium to very wide rays easily visible without lens, noded, wide spacing; parenchyma rare or absent.

Rot Resistance: Sycamore is rated as non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance, and is susceptible to insect attack.

Workability: Overall, Sycamore works easily with both hand and machine tools, though the interlocked grain can be troublesome in surfacing and machining operations at times. Sycamore turns, glues, and finishes well. Responds poorly to steam bending.

Odor: No characteristic odor.

Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Sycamore. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Usually moderately priced, though Sycamore is commonly sold as quartersawn boards, which can increase the cost.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Common Uses: Veneer, plywood,  interior trim, pallets/crates, flooring, furniture, particleboard, paper (pulpwood), tool handles, and other turned objects.

Comments: Not to be confused with European Sycamore—which is actually just a species of maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)—Sycamore is sometimes referred to as “American Plane” in Europe.

Related Species:

London Plane (Platanus x hybrida)

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Common Name(s): Black Walnut

Scientific Name: Juglans nigra

Distribution: Eastern United States

Tree Size: 100-120 ft (30-37 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 38 lbs/ft³ (610 kg/m³)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .51, .61

Janka Hardness: 1,010 lbf (4,490 N)

Modulus of Rupture: 14,600 lbf/in² (100.7 MPa)

Elastic Modulus: 1,680,000 lbf/in² (11.59 GPa)

Crushing Strength: 7,580 lbf/in² (52.3 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 5.5%, Tangential: 7.8%, Volumetric: 12.8%, T/R Ratio: 1.4

Color/Appearance: Heartwood can range from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. Color can sometimes have a grey, purple, or reddish cast. Sapwood is pale yellow-gray to nearly white. Figured grain patterns such as curl, crotch, and burl are also seen.

Grain/Texture: Grain is usually straight, but can be irregular. Has a medium texture and moderate natural luster.

Endgrain: Semi-ring-porous; large earlywood pores grading to medium latewood pores, few; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; tyloses occasionally to abundantly present; growth rings distinct; medium rays barely visible without lens, normal spacing; parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates (sometimes very faint and barely visible even with lens) and banded (marginal).

Rot Resistance: Black Walnut is rated as very durable in terms of decay resistance, though it is susceptible to insect attack.

Workability: Typically easy to work provided the grain is straight and regular. Planer tearout can sometimes be a problem when surfacing pieces with irregular or figured grain. Glues, stains, and finishes well, (though walnut is rarely stained). Responds well to steam bending.

Odor: Black Walnut has a faint, mild odor when being worked.

Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Black Walnut has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Very popular and widely available, though board widths can sometimes be narrow. Considered a premium domestic hardwood, prices are in the high range for a domestic species.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Common Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior paneling, veneer, turned items, and other small wooden objects and novelties.

Comments: It would be hard to overstate Black Walnut’s popularity among woodworkers in the United States. Its cooperative working characteristics, coupled with its rich brown coloration puts the wood in a class by itself among temperate-zone hardwoods. To cap it off, the wood also has good dimensional stability, shock resistance, and strength properties.

Related Species:

Bastogne Walnut (Juglans x paradox)

Butternut (Juglans cinerea)

Claro Walnut (Juglans hindsii)

English Walnut (Juglans regia)

Peruvian Walnut (Juglans spp.)

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Common Name(s): Pecan

Scientific Name: Carya illinoinensis

Distribution: South-central United States and Mexico

Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 2-4 ft (.6-1.2 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 46 lbs/ft³ (735 kg/m³)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .60, .74

Janka Hardness: 1,820 lbf (8,100 N)

Modulus of Rupture: 13,700 lbf/in² (94.5 MPa)

Elastic Modulus: 1,730,000 lbf/in² (11.93 GPa)

Crushing Strength: 7,850 lbf/in² (54.1 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.9%, Tangential: 8.9%, Volumetric: 13.6%, T/R Ratio: 1.8

Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to be light to medium brown, with a reddish hue; sapwood is a paler yellowish brown.

Grain/Texture: Grain is usually straight, though occasionally wavy. Texture is medium, with a low natural luster.

Endgrain: Ring-porous to semi-ring-porous; large to very large earlywood pores in a single intermittent row, medium to small latewood pores solitary and radial multiples of 2-3, few; tyloses common; parenchyma reticulate (bands absent from earlywood row in true hickory group, but present in pecan hickory group); narrow rays, close spacing.

Rot Resistance: Considered to be non-durable to perishable regarding heartwood decay, and also very susceptible to insect attack.

Workability: Difficult to work, with tearout being common during machining operations if cutting edges are not kept sharp; the wood tends to blunt cutting edges. Glues, stains, and finishes well. Responds well to steam bending.

Odor: No characteristic odor.

Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Pecan. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Various species of Hickory and Pecan (Carya genus) are typically mixed together and simply sold as Hickory. Prices are usually in the low to mid range, depending upon local availability. Hickory prices should compare similarly to other utility hardwoods such as Red Oak or Soft Maple.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Common Uses: Tool handles, ladder rungs, wheel spokes, and flooring.

Comments: Pecan has slightly lower strength values than some of the other species of Hickory, but it is still among the hardest and strongest of woods native to the United States. The wood is commonly used where strength or shock-resistance is important. As the common name implies, Carya illinoinensis is the tree responsible for producing Pecan nuts commonly used in snacks and cooking recipes, and is the state tree of Texas.

Pecan falls into the Pecan-Hickory grouping, which tends to be slightly  stabler but weaker than the True-Hickories, and is considered to be a semi-ring-porous wood. The strength characteristics of Pecan are  somewhat influenced by the spacing of its growth rings. In general, wood from faster-growing trees, with wider spaced growth rings, tends to be harder, heavier, and stronger than wood from slower-growing trees that have rings which are closer together.

In addition to strength and hardness applications, the wood of Carya species also has a very high thermal energy content when burned, and is sometimes used as fuelwood for wood stoves. Additionally, Pecan is also used as charcoal in cooking meat, with the smoke imparting additional flavor to the food.

Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis)

Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa)

Nutmeg Hickory (Carya myristiciformis)

Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra)

Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)

Shellbark Hickory (Carya laciniosa)

Water Hickory (Carya aquatica)

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Pecan

Black Walnut

Sycamore

Eastern Cottonwood

Burr Oak

Shumard Red Oak

American Elm

Cedar Elm

Common Persimmon

Red Mulberry

eastern red bud

Eastern Red Cedar

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The Wood Database (wood-database.com)

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Explore the woods, break out of the ordinary. Identifying and using hundreds of woods worldwide.

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What exactly is black soil?

Bottomland soils are primarily deep, dark-colored clays and loams that grow along small streams, but they vary greatly along the rivers. The majority of land is used for grazing and cropland.

In the bottomlands, there is some hardwood timber. Wetland wildlife habitat is also managed in many areas.

What plants are the most popular on the Blackland Prairie?

Switchgrass, Indiangrass, big bluestem, and small bluestem were the four grass species that dominated much of the Blackland Prairie. These grasses are well-known among ranchers because they provide excellent food for cattle.

What is the elevation of Blackland Prairie?

The Blackland Prairies region’s topography is gently rolling to nearly level, and it is well dissected for rapid surface drainage. The elevation ranges from 300 to 800 feet above sea level. From west to east, average annual rainfall ranges from 30 to 40 inches.

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TPWD: Plant Guidance by Ecoregions -- Ecoregion 4 – The Blackland Prairies (texas.gov)

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nature@tpwd.texas.gov
Ecoregion 4 - The Blackland Prairies

The fertile dark clay soils of the Blackland Prairies are some of the richest soils in the world. They are found in gently rolling to nearly level regions just west of and, in some cases, surrounded by the Post Oak Savannah of ecoregion 3. Pecan, cedar elm, various oaks and hackberry dot the landscape with some mesquite invading the southern reaches. The dominant grass of this true tall grass prairie is little bluestem, but big blue stem, Indiangrass, eastern gammagrass, switchgrass and side oats grama can also be found. Annual rainfalls of 30 to 40 inches and temperatures of 66 to 70 degrees are average for this region.

Today, this region is almost entirely under the plow, with only 5000 of the original 12 million acres remaining in true prairie condition. This region truly represents some of the rarest landscapes in Texas!

Like many prairie communities comprising the Great Plains of North America, the Blackland Prairies harbor few rare plants or animals, though the prairie itself is significantly in decline. The special and unique feature of this ecosystem today are the grasslands communities themselves.

People are often surprised to learn that trees comprised a part of the prairie ecosystems, but several tree species, including some of significant sizes, will show in this list.

Plants for the Blackland Prairies

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texas wildscapes plant guidance by ecoregions

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nature@tpwd.texas.gov The fertile dark clay soils of the Blackland Prairies are some of the richest soils in the world. They are found in gently rolling to nearly level regions just west of and, in some cases, surrounded by the Post Oak Savannah of ecoregion 3.

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https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/wildscapes/ecoregions/ecoregion_4.phtml

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nature@tpwd.texas.gov
Ecoregion 4 - The Blackland Prairies

The fertile dark clay soils of the Blackland Prairies are some of the richest soils in the world. They are found in gently rolling to nearly level regions just west of and, in some cases, surrounded by the Post Oak Savannah of ecoregion 3. Pecan, cedar elm, various oaks and hackberry dot the landscape with some mesquite invading the southern reaches. The dominant grass of this true tall grass prairie is little bluestem, but big blue stem, Indiangrass, eastern gammagrass, switchgrass and side oats grama can also be found. Annual rainfalls of 30 to 40 inches and temperatures of 66 to 70 degrees are average for this region.

Today, this region is almost entirely under the plow, with only 5000 of the original 12 million acres remaining in true prairie condition. This region truly represents some of the rarest landscapes in Texas!

Like many prairie communities comprising the Great Plains of North America, the Blackland Prairies harbor few rare plants or animals, though the prairie itself is significantly in decline. The special and unique feature of this ecosystem today are the grasslands communities themselves.

People are often surprised to learn that trees comprised a part of the prairie ecosystems, but several tree species, including some of significant sizes, will show in this list.

Plants for the Blackland Prairies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
texas wildscapes plant guidance by ecoregions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
nature@tpwd.texas.gov The fertile dark clay soils of the Blackland Prairies are some of the richest soils in the world. They are found in gently rolling to nearly level regions just west of and, in some cases, surrounded by the Post Oak Savannah of ecoregion 3.