Types of Wood
Shittim Wood Guide: Biblical Meaning, Uses, and Identity
Shittim wood is the biblical name for timber probably obtained from one or more regional acacia species. This guide explains its identity, characteristics, uses in Exodus, symbolism, modern availability, and relationship to acacia furniture.
Striped Maple: How to Identify and Grow Acer pensylvanicum
Striped maple, Acer pensylvanicum, is a shade-tolerant understory tree known for its green bark with pale vertical stripes. This guide covers identification, native habitat, similar maples, landscape care, and seed propagation.
Rainbow Eucalyptus Wood Guide: Color, Properties, Uses, and Buying
Rainbow eucalyptus wood is brown, not rainbow-striped—the famous colors come from its peeling bark. This guide covers its properties, uses, drying challenges, availability, authenticity, and differences from blue gum.
Aliso Wood Guide: Species, Properties, Uses, and Limitations
Aliso wood generally means alder, but the exact species varies by region and supplier. This guide explains its identity, properties, uses, workability, durability, comparisons, and buying considerations.
Cherrybark Oak: Identification, Leaves, Size, and Growing Guide
Cherrybark oak is a large native red oak known for its pagoda-shaped leaves and dark bark resembling black cherry. This guide explains its identification, range, mature size, habitat, landscape needs, and ecological value.
Mockernut Hickory Field Guide: Bark, Leaves, Nuts, and Saplings
Mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa) is a native eastern North American tree recognized by hairy compound leaves, tight ridged bark, and thick-shelled edible nuts. This field guide explains identification, similar species, habitat, uses, and propagation.
Quebracho Guide: The Axe-Breaker Trees of South America
Quebracho refers to several exceptionally hard South American trees rather than one species. This guide explains their differences, wood properties, tannin chemistry, uses, history and responsible sourcing.
Shellbark Hickory Guide: Identification, Nuts, and Growing
Shellbark hickory, or Carya laciniosa, is a large native tree recognized by its shaggy bark, compound leaves, and exceptionally large edible nuts. This guide explains how to identify it, distinguish it from shagbark hickory, process its nuts, and grow it successfully.
Types of Hardwood: The Definitive Guide to Species, Floors, and Identification
This definitive guide explains the main types of hardwood, from common species like oak and maple to solid, engineered, parquet, and reclaimed floors. You’ll learn how hardwoods differ by grain, hardness, cost, durability, moisture performance, and how to identify the hardwood floor you already have.
Wych Elm Guide: Identification, Habitat, Uses and Name Meaning
This guide explains how to identify wych elm through its leaves, bark, flowers, seeds and seasonal features. Learn where Ulmus glabra grows, how it differs from similar trees and what its name and cultural references mean.
