Common Alabama Urban Wood Species: Hickory
Hickory is the hardest commercially available domestic hardwood. In fact, it’s five times harder than aspen, which is one of the soft hardwoods. This tree belongs to a walnut family and is prized for dense, hardwood as well as sweet syrupy sap and large delicious nuts.
Hickory heartwood is usually light to medium brown but also has a reddish hue. On the other hand, sapwood is paler and yellowish-brown. Hickory, like pecan wood, has a straight or wavy grain. The texture of this wood is medium. Hickory wood responds well to steam-bending, and it also stains, glues, and finishes well.
Benefits of hickory wood are:
- Strength
- Durability
- Resistance to stains and damages
- Minimal maintenance
When it comes to interior design and typical uses for urban hickory, hickory wood is used for flooring and tool handles. It is primarily used where shock resistance and strength are important. Keep in mind due to the grain structure; hickory is more prone to shrinkage with humidity changes.
Hickory wood fun facts:
- Of 18 species of hickory tree, 12 are native to North America
- Hickory can grow 80-100ft in height
- Cherokees used hickory bark to produce green dye to color their cloth