Creating markets for local sustainably managed forests
 
Species Information


The following is basic information on the species available from Northwest Certified Forestry members. For most species, you can also click on the species name to link to detailed technical information from the U.S. Forest Service’s Center for Wood Anatomy Research.

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menzeisii)
Douglas-fir is the most plentiful and versatile of Northwest species. The wood has strong contrast between the reddish heartwood and pale sapwood and has excellent strength and stability. Applications include timbers and framing, interiors finishes, furniture, industrial lumber - just about anything.


Featured Product

Douglas Fir Timbers


News and Events

Latest NCF newsletter


 
Red alder (Alnus rubra)
In the past 20 years, alder has gone from a ‘junk’ tree to one of the most sought after Northwest species. It has good stability and workability and is used in a broad range of interior finishes and furniture. Though alder has uniform color between the heartwood and sapwood, it can vary from a pale cream to a deep amber depending on the manufacturer’s drying treatments.

Big-leaf or western maple (Acer macrophyllum)
Western, or Big-leaf, maple is an abundant, uniformly white hardwood found in wetter Northwest habitats. While not as hard as some of its eastern cousins, western maple works very well for a wide variety of interior finishes including trim, flooring and furniture.

Western red cedar (Thuja plicata)
Cedar is renowned for its rot resistant properties and is suitable for a wide variety of exterior uses. The species is capable of withstanding decades of exposure, but is not recommended for ground contact. White sapwood contrasts dramatically with the reddish heartwood, which weathers to a lustrous silver if left untreated.

Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)
Hemlock is a uniformly light-colored and soft wood used primarily for construction lumber. Defect-free material is also often used for interior finishes. Though a common Northwest conifer, hemlock is only available in limited quantities in the current Northwest Certified Forestry membership.

Bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata)
Bitter cherry is a minor hardwood species in the Northwest and is only available in limited quantities. It’s mottled appearance of ambers, tans and browns combine to make a dynamic and unique finish. It is best suited for applications with smaller dimensional requirements, such as flooring.
     
P.O. Box 1067    Port Townsend, WA 98368     360-379-9421 Phone     360-385-7455 Fax     info@nnrg.org