Different types of wood timber by A to Z
We like repairing or adapting existing things, using reclaimed timber, or buying locally-grown wood best.
If that's not possible for you then you can use the table below to help you find the best alternative when buying new timber. It covers tree species info on:
- Common and scientific name*
- Country of origin
- Common uses
- Whether it is threatened with extinction (see key below)
- Whether reclaimed timber of that tree species is available
- How much it is used in the UK
* listed alphabetically by common name and according to type of tree - eg American Cedar is listed under Cedar American
Key to threat classification
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CR
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Critically Endangered: a very high risk of extinction in the wild
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EN
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Endangered: a high risk of extinction in the wild
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VU
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Vulnerable: at risk of extinction
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LR (NT)
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Lower risk (near threatened): close to qualifying as Vulnerable
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Table of different types of wood timber by A to Z
The letters below are clickable and will take you to the tree species beginning with that letter.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Common name
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Scientific name
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Origin
|
Uses
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Level of use in the UK
|
Global threat status
|
Available as reclaimed?
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|
Utile / sipo
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Entandophragma utile
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West Africa (Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire)
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Furniture, fitments, joinery, construction
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Major
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VU
|
Regularly as wood strip and woodblock flooring
|
|
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
Origin
|
Uses
|
Level of use in the UK
|
Global threat status
|
Available as reclaimed?
|
|
Virola
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Virola spp.
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South America
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Plywood, mouldings, interior joinery
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Minor
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V. surinamensis EN
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|
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Vitex Minor
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Vitex confassus
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South-east Asia
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Boxes and crates, utility furniture, joinery
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Minor
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-
|
|
|
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
Origin
|
Uses
|
Level of use in the UK
|
Global threat status
|
Available as reclaimed?
|
|
Wallaba
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Eperua falcata
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South America
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Heavy construction, poles, industrial flooring
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Minor
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-
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|
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Walnut, African /dibetou
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Lovoa trichilioides
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West and Central Africa
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Furniture and panelling
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Minor
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VU
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|
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Walnut
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Juglans spp.
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Europe, North America
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Furniture, joinery, gun butts
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Minor
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|
Regularly as antique panelling and veneered doors
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|
Walnut,
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Endiandra palmerstonii
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Queensland Australia
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Furniture, interior joinery and construction, veneers
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Minor
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-
|
|
|
Wawa / Samba / Obeche / Ayous
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Triplochiton scleroxylon
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Africa
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Kitchen furniture, mouldings, hidden work, plywood
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Major
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-
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|
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Wenge
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Millettia laurentii
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Central Africa
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Furniture, decorative veneers, speciality uses
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Minor
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EN
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Regularly as woodblock flooring
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|
Willow
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Salix spp.
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UK, Europe
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Cricket bats, basket work, toys and other items
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Minor
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-
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|
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Common name
|
Scientific name
|
Origin
|
Uses
|
Level of use in the UK
|
Global threat status
|
Available as reclaimed?
|
|
Yew (softwood)
|
Taxus baccata
|
UK, Europe
|
Decorative veneer
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Minor
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-
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
