Species and wood science

Sweet chestnut

Sweet chestnut is Castanea sativa, a ring-porous European hardwood with durable heartwood.

Its grain can resemble oak, but chestnut usually lacks the same strong ray figure and is often lighter in weight.

It is unrelated to horse chestnut. Use the botanical name when species identity matters.

More terms

European oak

European oak usually refers to Quercus robur or closely traded European white-oak species.

European walnut

European walnut is Juglans regia, also called English or Persian walnut.

European ash

European ash is Fraxinus excelsior, a pale hardwood with clear open grain.

Black locust

Black locust is Robinia pseudoacacia, a dense and naturally durable hardwood.