Firewood

Ironbark wood is well praised in the timber world as it is very strong and durable. That is why you will find a lot of vintage furniture to be made of ironbark wood. It is a type of eucalyptus tree and therefore derives from the myrtle family. As such, it tends to grow quite tall […]

A type of eucalyptus tree, stringybark belongs to the myrtle family and refers to a collection of trees with unique, stringy bark. These trees can grow to be very large and are hard to miss once you know what you’re looking for. Stringybark is native to Australia but can also be found in the US.

Paperbark (melaleuca quinquenervia) gets its name from its bark which you can peel off in flakes and looks like paper. It is a type of tree native to Australia but now also grows in Florida. Most trees that fall under the paperbark category belong to the myrtle family. Generally, paperbarks favor coastal regions and wet

Blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) is called such because of the beautiful blue flowers that prominently bloom amongst its leave. These flowers carry a lot of pollen and are highly important for bees, though mostly in South Africa where they naturally grow. Classed as an invasive species in some countries, blue gum is often only used

Blackwood (acacia melanoxylon) is a variety of Acacia species. It is very hard to find in the US as it is native to the other side of the world: Australia. However, in South Africa, it is considered an invasive species. It is a wood most often used to make furniture and tools as it is

Alder is a key part of the birch family and is used to make commercial charcoal. It is also known to be a great natural remedy for insect bites and mishaps with poison oak. The wood itself is extremely durable and prefers moist areas such as river banks. They are often planted in areas where erosion is

Black wattle is native to Australia but is also one of the most common trees in South Africa. In the rest of the world, it is considered an invasive species. It is a blooming tree that belongs to the Fabaceae family, able to bloom its spring flowers even in the harshest conditions. So, if you

Hickory is one of the most popular woods grown and used in the United States. It is part of the walnut family Juglandaceae and so is extremely tough and durable. This is why it is very much a commercial wood. When it isn’t being turned into ax handles or drumsticks, can hickory be used as firewood? Hickory

Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) is more commonly referred to as the hedge tree. This is because it will not grow very tall at all but does have a traditional use as a windbreaker. They can be found all over the US but are not harvested for their fruits in the same way that their name’s

Cottonwood (Populus section aigeiros) is part of the poplar (Populus) family and is native to America. As such, cottonwood grows all over the US, taking a particular liking to moisture soils. You will often find them near lakes and rivers. Their love for moist soils makes cottonwood very effective flood and erosion barriers. But are