Hard, heavy, and reliable words one may use to describe American Appalachian hardwoods. Each American hardwood is unique, with unrivaled beauty, durability, and versatility. A geographical marvel, the Appalachian region in North America bestows us with these hardwood species.

As one of the most sought-after premium lumber, Appalachian hardwoods are genuinely some of the most durable hardwoods a craftsman can get. Gutchess Lumber takes pride in offering our customers some of the finest Appalachian hardwoods. Here are the American hardwood species to help fulfill your woodworking needs.

Ash

Growing to 80 feet with a crown that spreads over 50 feet wide, White Ash wood has a medium to coarse texture that is almost always straight and regular. White Ash lumber is light to medium brown. With strength and resilience, this hardwood retains its region’s commitment to producing premium hardwood.

Our White Ash hardwood is dense with bright white sapwood, light tan heartwood, and uniform, well-defined annual growth rings. Commonly used in furniture, tool handles, guitar bodies, lobster traps, and flooring, White Ash lumber turns well and retains extreme strength.

Basswood

American Basswood grows between 50 and 80 feet in height with a 30-foot to 50-foot spread. Ranging from pale white to light brown with a straight, fine-grain pattern, this hardwood is a soft, lightweight wood.

The light density of basswood lumber makes it well-suited for woodenware, crates, blinds, and internal furniture parts.

Cherry

The Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) can grow between 25 and 110 feet tall.  Due to its malleability and the wide distribution of the seeds of its fruit by birds, the Black Cherry has always been in abundance in North America. Black Cherry wood features a fine, straight grain and a light pink-brown to medium reddish-brown color.

Black Cherry hardwood from our region is one of the most valued hardwood species with its rich red heartwood, beautiful grain patterns, and minimal gum spots. Uses for kiln-dried cherry lumber include fine furniture, cabinets, paneling, flooring, doors, recreational vehicle interiors, string instruments, coffins, and carvings.

Hickory

Hickory trees grow to heights of 65 feet to 100 feet, with trunks growing to 1 foot to 2 feet in diameter. With a Janka Hardness ranking of 1,880 lbf, Hickory boasts excellent strength and shock resistance, making it desirable for products such as cabinets, tool handles, axles and shafts, bows, skis, paddles, furniture, and flooring. Hickory wood lumber heartwood features light to medium brown with red undertones, while the sapwood is pale, yellowish-brown.

Hard Maple

This maple hardwood species grows from 50 to 80 feet and features a fine, even-textured grain. Hard Maple is a dense hardwood noted for its sturdiness and density. As a result, it has high resistance to abrasion and wear and is prized for furniture, cabinets, stairs, mouldings and millwork, coffins, and flooring. It is also used for gym and basketball courts, bowling alleys, bowling pins, rolling pins, other turnings, skateboard decks, baseball bats, billiard cues, cutting blocks, and various musical instruments.

Soft Maple

Soft Maple grows between 30 feet to 100 feet in height, and its close-grained sapwood is generally creamy white and its heartwood reddish-brown. Soft Maple trees were dubbed for their soft leaves in the autumn, but it is also known as the Scarlet Maple, Red Maple, the Drummond Red Maple, the Carolina Red Maple, the Swamp Maple, the Trident Maple, and the Water maple.

Red Oak

The Red Oak tree can grow up to 24 inches annually and reach a mature height of 60 to 90 feet. Red Oak wood color ranges from light to medium brown with red undertones and is strong, durable, easy to work with, and consistent in color and texture. Kiln-dried Red Oak is commonly used in furniture, cabinets, doors, panels, moldings, and millwork, floors, and caskets.

White Oak

White Oak trees can grow as large as 100 feet tall and reach a mature age within 20 years. It is an extraordinarily durable wood type with incredible water-resistance properties as its wood pores are plugged by tyloses, making it harder for water to cause decay and rot. This makes it the ideal choice for shipbuilding and whiskey and wine barrels.

White Oak has a light brown heartwood and slightly paler sapwood and is strong, tough, dense, tight-grained, durable, and beautiful.

Poplar

Poplar lumber is a substantial species, growing 130 to 160 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 6 feet to 8 feet. White Poplar is a light, soft hardwood with sapwood that is white or light green cast. Our White Poplar lumber is harvested from prime timberland in the northern Appalachian region of Pennsylvania near our manufacturing facilities. It is often used in furniture, moldings and millwork, paneling, panels, carvings, crates, and picture frames.

Walnut

Black Walnut grows between 75 feet and 130 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 2 feet to 3 feet. American Black Walnut has beautiful dark red heartwood and steamed dark sapwood. Applications for Black Walnut lumber include furniture, paneling, cabinets, doors, paddles, coffins, flooring, and rifle stock. This hardwood is an exceptional example of this region’s ability to produce highly durable, premium lumber.

American Appalachian hardwood is for those who appreciate lumber’s natural beauty, durability, and quality. A true testament to nature’s craftsmanship, this Appalachian hardwood is exceptionally alluring, with plenty to offer.

The finest quality Appalachian hardwood is essential when distributing and manufacturing hardwood products for furniture, moulding, and other secondary uses. Crafting exquisite pieces that consumers will love requires the trust, charm, and quality that only Gutchess Lumber hardwood can provide. That is why our tagline is Be Sure It’s Gutchess.

Each type of Appalachian hardwood is unique and versatile and has specific characteristics that make it the perfect choice for your needs. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the eleven hardwood species we manufacture here at Gutchess Lumber that are revered for their distinctive characteristics and consistent quality.

White Ash Hardwood

Commonly used in furniture, tool handles, guitar bodies, lobster traps, and flooring, White Ash (Fraxinus americana) is a symbol of strength and dependability. Characterized by a straight, medium to coarse texture, it ranges from light to medium brown. Our White Ash hardwood is dense with bright white sapwood, light tan heartwood, and uniform, well-defined annual growth rings.

Renowned for its durability, it’s the go-to wood for crafting baseball bats and longbows. Whether you’re creating a masterpiece or a functional tool, White Ash is a choice that ensures your creation stands the test of time.

Thickness Offered:

4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 7/4, 8/4, 10/4, 12/4

Few Grades Offered:

F&B, S&B, SELN, 6SEL, 1,2,3 COM, Pallet

 

Basswood Hardwood

Also known as Lime or Linden, American Basswood is a soft, lightweight hardwood ideal for crafting. A soft, lightweight wood, pale in color, with fine close grain, it is usually free of large knots. From pale white to light brown, Basswood features a straight, fine-grain pattern—a canvas of understated elegance.

The light density of basswood lumber makes it well-suited for woodenware, crates, blinds, and internal furniture parts. For carving enthusiasts, kiln-dried Basswood responds effortlessly to hand tools. In many applications, it’s a versatile substitute for aspen or poplar.

Thickness Offered:

4/4, 5/4, 8/4

Few Grades Offered:

F&B, 1,2 COM, Pallet

 

Yellow Birch Hardwood

Native to Northeastern North America, Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) showcases a beautiful interplay of light, red-brown heartwood, and nearly white sapwood, exuding natural sophistication. The wood’s straight grain complements its fine, even texture, making it a pleasure to work with. With a Janka Hardness rating of 1,260 lbf, Yellow Birch embodies durability. Kiln-dried Yellow Birch finds its place in various applications, from crafting furniture and kitchen cabinets to adorning paneling, moldings, and interior doors.

Thickness Offered:

4/4

Few Grades Offered:

F&B, 1,2 COM

 

Black Cherry Hardwood

The Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is a North American marvel featuring a fine, straight grain with the exception of figured pieces with curly grain patterns or when defects from pith, mineral deposits, gum pockets, and knots arise. Due to its malleability and the wide distribution of the seeds of its fruit by birds, the Black Cherry has always been in abundance in North America.

Ranging from light pink-brown to a radiant medium reddish-brown, Black Cherry’s palette is highly versatile. Medium in density, Black Cherry is malleable and exhibits excellent wood bending properties. Kiln-dried Cherry lumber finds its place in fine furniture, cabinets, paneling, flooring, doors, and even musical instruments. Its versatility extends to coffins, carvings, and recreational vehicle interiors.

Thickness Offered:

4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4, 10/4, 12/4

Few Grades Offered:

F&BP, F&B, S&B, NAT, SELN, 6SEL, 1,2,3 COM, RUSTIC, Pallet

 

Hard Maple Hardwood

Hard Maple hardwood hails from the Sugar Maple tree (Acer saccharum), and is abundant throughout the Northeastern United States and Northeastern Canada. Hard Maple wood features a fine, even-textured grain that is generally straight but may be wavy. It boasts a palette ranging from white to cream and is graced by reddish or golden hues.

Hard Maple is a dense hardwood noted for its sturdy, bright white sapwood and high abrasion and wear resistance. Hard Maple finds its essence in various applications, from crafting fine furniture to adorning cabinets, stairs, and millwork. It can be found in gym floors, bowling alleys, and even in creating musical instruments.

Thickness Offered:

4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4, 10/4, 12/4, 16/4

Few Grades Offered:

F&B, S&B, SELN, 6SEL, 1,2,3 COM, Pallet

 

Hickory Hardwood

Native to the Eastern United States, Hickory is commonly known as Shagbark Hickory. Its remarkable Janka Hardness ranking of 1,880 lbf ensures excellent strength and shock resistance. Hickory wood lumber heartwood features light to medium brown with red undertones, while the sapwood is pale, yellowish-brown. Its grain, predominantly straight with occasional waves, adds depth to its visual appeal, complemented by a medium texture.

For those seeking a rustic touch, Calico Hickory boards offer a picturesque option featuring heartwood and sapwood on the same canvas. Used for cabinets, tool handles, axles and shafts, bows, skis, paddles, furniture, and flooring, Hickory is hard, dense, and heavy.

Thickness Offered:

4/4, 5/4, 8/4

Few Grades Offered:

F&B, 1,2,3 COM, RUSTIC, Pallet

 

Poplar Hardwood

Rising to towering heights of 130 to 160 feet, with trunks spanning 6 to 8 feet in diameter, Poplar commands attention with its sheer size. However, beneath this imposing stature lies a wood of remarkably low density.

Poplar wood color features a light cream to yellow-brown heartwood, pale yellow to white sapwood, and a straight, uniform grain. White Poplar is a light, soft hardwood with sapwood that is white or light green cast. The color is lighter and more uniform than native American Southern “Yellow Poplar” (also known as Tulipwood). It is generally free of dark mineral streaks found in the southern species, making it a stain-grade Poplar.

White Poplar offers an economical solution for various applications from furniture to millwork, carvings to picture frames. It proves itself to be a versatile and cost-effective option.

Thickness Offered:

4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4, 10/4, 12/4

Few Grades Offered:

F&B, 1,2,3 COM

 

Red Maple Hardwood

Also known as the Scarlet Maple, Red Maple, the Drummond Red Maple, the Carolina Red Maple, the Swamp Maple, the Trident Maple, and the Water Maple, this hardwood is found in the Eastern United States and Canada. Similar in appearance to Hard Maple, its close-grained sapwood is generally creamy white, and its heartwood is reddish-brown. The grain of this hardwood is often dotted with flecks. It easily machines and can be finished to emulate the essence of Hard Maple, Black Cherry, or Alder, making it a valuable substitute in various woodworking projects.

Thickness Offered:

4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4

Few Grades Offered:

F&BS, F&B, FIGR, WRM, S&B, SELN, 6SEL, 1,2,3 COM, Pallet

 

Red Oak Hardwood

A testament to nature’s vigor, the Red Oak tree unfurls its branches, growing to a remarkable 24 inches yearly. Red Oak lumber boasts a distinctive character, featuring a coarse, uneven, straight grain punctuated by large pores. Red Oak wood color ranges from light to medium brown with red undertones.

Distinguished by its strength, durability, and ease of manipulation, Red Oak is a versatile ally in woodworking. Red Oak machines exceptionally well and can be stained or polished beautifully. Kiln-dried Red Oak is commonly used in furniture, cabinets, doors, panels, moldings, and millwork, floors, and caskets.

Thickness Offered:

4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 7/4, 8/4

Few Grades Offered:

F&B, F&BP, S&B, SELN, 6SEL, 1,2,3 COM, Pallet

 

Walnut Hardwood

Known by various names like American Black Walnut and American Walnut, Walnut exudes an air of timeless elegance. The Black Walnut hardwood bark is dark gray to brown in color with deep ridges that create a distinctive bark pattern. American Black Walnut is a straight-grained, medium-density hardwood with beautiful dark red heartwood and steamed dark sapwood.

Renowned for its workability and stunning finish, this medium-density hardwood is preferred for various applications. From crafting exquisite furniture and cabinets to adorning doors, floors, and paneling, Black Walnut leaves an indelible mark of sophistication and luxury.

Thickness Offered:

4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4

Few Grades Offered:

F&B, F&BS, 1,2,3 COM, Pallet

 

White Oak Hardwood

White Oak (Quercus alba) tree growth is native to the eastern United States. It boasts resilience against diverse climates, adapting seamlessly to varying temperatures, annual precipitation, and relative humidity levels.

The color of White Oak lumber can be described as similar to wheat in color with cool undertones. White Oak wood features a very mild, straight grain pattern that is perceived as having a coarse, uneven texture even when planed.

The remarkable durability and water-resistant prowess of White Oak truly set it apart. Tyloses fortify its pores, rendering it resistant to decay and rot. These natural waterproofing properties are the reason White Oak has historically been the wood of choice for shipbuilding.

White Oak has a light brown heartwood and slightly paler sapwood. It is vital, tough, dense, tight-grained, durable, and beautiful. Its water-resistant properties make it the primary species for whiskey and wine barrels. It is used in fine furniture today and indoors, moldings, caskets, boat decking, flooring, and outdoor applications. Kiln-dried White Oak is rated as one of the best hardwoods for machining and steam bending.

Thickness Offered:

4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4

Few Grades Offered:

F&B, 1,2,3 COM, Pallet