Types of Wood Species – 12 Most Commonly Used Hardwoods And Softwoods

Botanically, trees are divided into two categories: hardwoods and softwoods. The key distinction lies in their growth patterns and leaf-shedding behavior. Hardwood trees, known as angiosperms, grow at a slower pace and shed their leaves annually. This results in denser wood. On the other hand, softwood trees, classified as gymnosperms, are evergreen and do not shed their leaves.

The below article briefs about the various types of wood species.

Hardwoods

• Hardwoods are deciduous (broad-leafed).
• The most common Hardwoods are Birch, Cherry, Oak, Maple, Walnut, Hickory, Ashwood, Poplar, etc.
• They are
• – Deciduous in temperate climates
• – Lose their leaves in autumn
• – Old leaves are replaced by new ones in tropical climates.

Softwoods :

• Softwoods are coniferous (needle-shaped leaves).
• Common Softwoods are Pine, Western Red Cedar, Redwood, Cypress, etc.
• Softwood trees tend to grow more rapidly than hardwoods and also have larger less dense cells in the earlywood than hardwoods. The cell structure is less dense than hardwood, therefore a nail can be driven easily.
• – Mostly they are evergreen in various types of climates.

Types of Wood Species

Common Hardwoods

The most commonly used distinct types of wood species in hardwoods are –

A. Birch

• Source: Yellow Birch Tree (Betuaalleghaniensis Britt)
  • United States and Canada
• Uses: Cabinets, Flooring, Furniture, Veneer, Kitchen utensils, Toys
• Types: Yellow Birch, Orthern Birch, River Birch, Red Birch, American White Birch, Sweet Birch, etc.
• Janka Hardness Scale :
  • Yellow Birch – 1260
  • Sweet Birch – 1470
• Appearance:
  • Color: Creamy/Pale White to Reddish brown or Yellow
  • Grain Pattern: Straight grain with fine texture, tight pores
  • Sufficiently durable, stylish, and attractive
• Finishing: Takes finishes well, but penetrating wood stains may produce blotching.

B. Cherry

• Source : American Black Cherry tree
  • United States and Canada
• Uses: Furniture, Cabinetry, Crafts and toys, Interiors, Kitchen accessories, etc.
• Types: Black Cherry, Brazilian Cherry
• Janka Hardness scale :
  • Black cherry – 995
• Appearance :
  • Color: Light Pink to Rich Reddish Brown
  • Grain pattern: Fine grain pattern with Smooth Texture
  • Lustrous finish
• Finishing: Takes Stains and Finishes well.
• Cost: Expensive

C. Oak

• Source: The Genus Quercus of the Beech family, Fagaceae.
  • United States and Canada
• Uses: Furniture, Cabinetry, Interiors, Doors, Veneer, Paneling
• Types: Red Oak, White Oak, Chestnut Oak, European Oak,
• Janka Hardness Scale :
  • Red Oak – 1290
  • White Oak – 1360
• Appearance :
  • Color: Tan to reddish pink in color
  • Grain Pattern: Straight wide grain pattern
  • old and classic look
  • Quartersawing reveals narrow medullary rays in red oak and wide medullary rays in white oak.
• Finishing: Takes Stains and finishes well, but pores will show through if painted unless they are filled.

D. Maple

• Source : Genus Acer
  • United States and Canada
• Uses: Furniture, flooring, kitchen countertops, instruments, plywood and veneer.
• Types: Red Maple, Silver Maple, Sugar Maple, Norway Maple, and many other varieties.
• Janka Hardness Scale: 1450
• Appearance :
  • Color: Yellow to a little reddish
  • Grain pattern: Straight wide grain with occasional curvy and wave pattern.
  • Durable and classic, stylish appearance
• Finishing: Takes clear finishes well, but staining may produce blotches.

E. Walnut

• Sources: Black walnut tree
  • Eastern United States and Canada
• Uses: Furniture, Cabinetry, Furniture, Doors and Windows, Interior decoration, Paneling
• Types: Also known as Black Walnut, Burmese Walnut, American Black Walnut, Brazilian Walnut
• Janka Hardness Scale :
  • Black Walnut – 1010
  • Brazilian Walnut – 3680
• Appearance :
  • Color: Pale brown to dark chocolate to purple or black
  • Grain pattern: Straight and fine grain
  • Uniform texture
• Finishing: Takes natural finishes beautifully
• Cost: Expensive

F. Hickory

• Source: Genus Carya
  • Southeastern United States
• Uses: Flooring, Cabinetry, Furniture, Tool Handles, Sporting good equipment, Plywood and Veneers.
• Types: Pecan Hickory, Shbbark Hickory, and many other varieties.
• Janka Hardness Scale: 1820
• Appearance :
  • Color: Medium Tan to light red with yellow or gold
  • Grain pattern: Straight to wavy pattern and coarse texture.
• Excellent shock resistance.
• Finishing: Takes stains well and clears finishes well.

G.Ash Wood

• Source: Comes from the family of trees – Oleaceae – Olive tree family.
  • United States and Canada
• Uses: Furniture, Flooring, Doors and windows, Interior decoration, Veneer, Interiors, Moulding, Kitchen cabinets.
• Types: White ash, American Bronze ash, Black ash, Oregon ash, Griffith ash, etc.
• Janka Hardness scale: 1320
• Appearance :
  • Color: White ash – Pale brown, greyish brown, light brown/pale yellow
    • American bronze ash – light and various shades of beige.
  • Grain pattern: Straight wide grain pattern with coarse texture.
• Excellent shock resistance
• Finishing: Takes stains well and clears finishes well.

H.Poplar

• Sources: Salicaceae
  • United States
• Uses : Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, veneer, light construction, moulding and millwork.
• Types : White poplar, Yellow poplar
• Janka Hardness scale : 2400
• Appearance :
  • Color : Tan to grey or green in color
  • Grain pattern : straight and wide grain pattern
  • Texture : medium
• Finishing: Better suited for painting than staining.

Common Softwoods

The most commonly used distinct types of wood species in softwoods are –

1.Pine

• Source : Pinus Sylvestris
  • United States and Canada
• Uses: Source of wood pulp for paper, manufacture, Interiors, flooring, roofing, furniture, window frames
• Types: Eastern white pine, white pine, Russian pine, Yellow pine, Red pine, and many other varieties.
• Janka Hardness scale :
  • Eastern white pine – 380
  • White pine – 420
• Appearance :
  • Color : Light yellow to reddish brown
  • Grain pattern : Straight grain with even texture.
• Finishing : Takes clear finishes and paints well.

2.Western Red Cedar

• Source: United States and Canada
• Uses: Furniture, Millwork, and Siding
• Appearance :
  • Grain pattern: Straight and variable grain pattern
  • Coarse texture
• Resistant to deterioration from UV Sunlight, insects, and moisture.
• Finishing: Takes stains and clears finishes well, but oils in wood can bleed unless primer is applied.

3. Redwood

• Source: West Coast of United States
• Uses: Outdoor furniture, decks and fences, siding
• Appearance :
  • Color: Reddish brown with cream-colored sapwood.
  • Grain pattern: straight fine grain with few knots
• Resistant to deterioration from UV Sunlight, insects, and moisture.
• Finishing: Takes stains and clears finishes well.
• Cost: Moderate to Expensive

4. Cypress

• Source: Mississippi Delta region of the United States.
• Uses: Exterior siding, trim, beams, flooring, cabinetry, paneling, etc.
• Appearance :
  • Grain Pattern: Straight and even grain pattern.
• Resistant to deterioration from UV Sunlight, insects, and moisture.
• Finishing: Takes stains and clears finishes well.
• Cost: Inexpensive where regionally available.

Also read:

A Quick Start Guide To Know About Types of Wood

20 DIY Wood Decoration Ideas that You Can Try at Home

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