Origin: Tropical Western Africa, including Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, and Nigeria.

Appearance: Features a light yellowish to golden-brown body with dramatic grey-to-black streaks running through it.

Character: Also known as Korina, it is famous as the wood used for Gibson’s legendary 1958 Flying V and Explorer guitars; it is prized for its tonal qualities and bold, contrasting veining.

Specs & Value: A lightweight, easy-to-work hardwood (Janka 670 lbf) priced at $10–$15 per board foot, with heavily streaked pieces commanding a premium.

Origin: Eastern North America, ranging from Southern Canada through the eastern and central United States.

Appearance: Light pinkish-brown when freshly milled, deepening to a rich, lustrous reddish-brown patina with age and light exposure.

Character: One of the most beloved American hardwoods, celebrated for its smooth grain and a natural darkening process that makes pieces look richer every year.

Specs & Value: A stable, dream-to-work hardwood (Janka 950 lbf) priced at $7–$12 per board foot for 8/4 stock.

Origin: Northeastern North America, specifically the "maple-syrup belt" of the northeastern U.S. and Eastern Canada.

Appearance: A clean, creamy white to off-white sapwood, offering the pale, classic look associated with high-end butcher blocks.

Character: The "king" of the maple family, it is the strongest and densest of its cousins; it is the industry standard for basketball courts, bowling alleys, and baseball bats.

Specs & Value: An exceptionally hard-wearing domestic wood (Janka 1,450 lbf) priced at $6–$12 per board foot, with figured varieties like Birdseye costing significantly more.

Origin: Tropical Africa, spanning Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, and Gabon.

Appearance: Medium to dark reddish-brown with a famous iridescent shimmer (chatoyance) that creates a "ribbon-stripe" effect on quartersawn surfaces.

Character: A close relative of mahogany that emits a faint cedar scent when worked; it has become the premier sustainable alternative to restricted genuine mahogany.

Specs & Value: A strong, stiff hardwood (Janka 1,410 lbf) priced at $9–$13 per board foot; it is highly valued for its glowing, three-dimensional grain.

Origin: West and Central Africa, primarily the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Congo basin.

Appearance: Pale pink to medium reddish-brown when fresh, deepening into a classic, deeper red-brown over time.

Character: A botanical relative of Honduran Mahogany, it offers the traditional "mahogany look" and workability at a much more accessible price point.

Specs & Value: A versatile hardwood (Janka ~1,070 lbf) priced at $7–$11 per board foot; it is currently listed under CITES Appendix II as supply tightens.

Origin: Tropical Africa, ranging from the Ivory Coast and Ghana to Tanzania and Uganda.

Appearance: Yellow to golden-brown when fresh, aging into a rich copper-brown that resembles true teak.

Character: Though not botanically related to Southeast Asian Teak, it shares its legendary rot resistance and oily feel; it is considered sacred to the Yoruba people of Nigeria.

Specs & Value: A durable, weather-resistant wood (Janka 1,260 lbf) priced at $9–$16 per board foot, offering a high-performance alternative to genuine teak at a fraction of the cost.

Origin: Central and South America, primarily the Andean regions of Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia.

Appearance: Noticeably darker than domestic walnut, featuring deep chocolate tones with occasional purplish or greenish-grey streaks.

Character: A true walnut (Juglans) that is prized in fine Andean furniture and gunstocks for its rich, uniform color that resists fading better than many other species.

Specs & Value: A beautiful, dark hardwood (Janka 960 lbf) priced at $11–$18 per board foot; it is currently listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Origin: Central and tropical West Africa, including Cameroon, Gabon, and Nigeria.

Appearance: One of the most intensely colored woods on Earth, appearing vivid blood-orange to bright red when fresh before aging to a deep, warm brown.

Character: Often called Vermillion, it is exceptionally stable and rot-resistant, making it as much of a functional "workhorse" as it is a visual showstopper.

Specs & Value: A hard, heavy species (Janka 1,970 lbf) priced at $9–$14 per board foot; it is now listed under CITES Appendix II.

Origin: Central and South America, with the majority sourced from the Amazon Basin in Brazil, Suriname, and Guyana.

Appearance: Freshly cut boards appear grayish-brown but quickly oxidize into a vibrant, deep eggplant purple that eventually mellows to a brownish-plum.

Character: One of the few naturally purple woods in the world, it is extremely strong and rot-resistant, earning its place through both performance and its unique, dye-free color.

Specs & Value: An incredibly dense and stiff wood (Janka 2,520 lbf) priced at $9–$14 per board foot.

Origin: Eastern United States, growing from New England south through Texas and west to the Great Plains.

Appearance: Features a rich chocolate-brown to nearly purplish-black heartwood, often beautifully contrasted by creamy white sapwood.

Character: The premier domestic hardwood for centuries, celebrated for its use in heirloom American furniture, high-end cabinetry, and premium gunstocks.

Specs & Value: A stable, easy-to-work hardwood (Janka 1,010 lbf) priced at $11–$18 per board foot, with wide or highly figured boards fetching a significant premium.

Origin: Eastern North America, covering the eastern half of the United States and Southern Canada.

Appearance: Light to medium brown with a subtle olive cast; quartersawn boards feature iconic "ray flecks" famous in Mission-style and antique furniture.

Character: A uniquely water-resistant hardwood due to its closed-pore structure, making it the essential choice for whiskey barrels, ships, and outdoor use.

Specs & Value: A strong and rot-resistant domestic wood (Janka 1,350 lbf) priced at $6–$10 per board foot, with rift and quartersawn cuts fetching a premium.

Origin: Southeast Asia, specifically Ambon Island in Indonesia, as well as the Philippines and Malaysia.

Appearance: Available in "Red" or "Golden" varieties, featuring incredibly dense clusters of bird’s-eye burl figure often contrasted by bright yellow sapwood.

Character: The rare burl form of the Narra tree, it is considered one of the world’s most prestigious woods for luxury items like fine pens and high-end knife handles.

Specs & Value: A highly sought-after material (Janka ~1,260 lbf) sold by the piece or weight; high-grade specimens are among the most expensive burls on the planet.

Origin: Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.

Appearance: Features a striking yellowish-golden background with bold, dark brown to black stripes that often form "bullseye" patterns or "eyes" in the grain.

Character: Sometimes called Mexican Rosewood, it is known for its naturally oily, waxy feel and a distinctive, pickle-like scent when being worked.

Specs & Value: An incredibly hard and heavy exotic wood (Janka 2,010 lbf) typically priced at $22–$30 per board foot, with no two pieces ever looking quite the same.

Origin: Native across North America, ranging from Southern Canada through the United States and into Mexico.

Appearance: Features a creamy white base accented by spectacular reddish-pink and orange streaks, coupled with the intricate eyes and swirls of burl figure.

Character: A unique member of the maple family, its famous pink highlights are caused by the box elder beetle, creating a natural color combination found in few other domestic woods.

Specs & Value: A softer domestic hardwood (Janka 720 lbf) typically sold by the piece, with highly figured or red-streaked blanks prized for specialty turning and small craft projects.

Origin: Central United States; the state tree of Ohio, ranging through the Midwest and into the Appalachians.

Appearance: A creamy white to pale yellow base featuring dramatic, painterly swirls of dark grey, black, and reddish-brown burl knots.

Character: While the straight timber is often too soft for construction, the burl is highly prized for its "stormy" mineral staining and unique high-contrast aesthetic.

Specs & Value: An exceptionally soft and lightweight domestic wood (Janka ~350 lbf) typically sold by the piece or weight for high-end craft and furniture accents.

Origin: South America, ranging from Panama south through the rainforests of Brazil.

Appearance: One of the most vibrant woods available, featuring a "rainbow" of yellow, orange, pink, and dark red streaks that can resemble a captured sunset.

Character: Beyond its showy looks, it is a strong, rot-resistant wood with excellent acoustic properties, often used as a more affordable alternative to Brazilian Tulipwood.

Specs & Value: A hard and heavy exotic (Janka 1,520 lbf) priced at $11–$16 per board foot, with "rainbow" figured pieces commanding the highest prices.

Origin: Pacific coast of Central America, spanning from Southern Mexico through Panama.

Appearance: A stunning kaleidoscope of yellows, oranges, reds, and deep browns, often contrasted by a sharp, pale yellow sapwood.

Character: A true rosewood (Dalbergia) known for its extreme density, naturally oily surface, and a spicy scent that makes it a world-class luxury material.

Specs & Value: One of the world's hardest woods (Janka 2,960 lbf) with prices ranging from $50–$90+ per board foot due to strict CITES Appendix II protections.

Origin: West Africa, historically sourced from Gabon but now most frequently exported from Cameroon.

Appearance: A deep, solid black with a grain so fine it polishes to a glass-like luster; it is the benchmark for the "ebony" look.

Character: Highly prized for elite applications like piano keys, guitar fingerboards, and pool cues, it is one of the most expensive and rare woods on the planet.

Specs & Value: An incredibly dense and hard wood (Janka 3,080 lbf) priced at $80–$150+ per board foot; it is currently listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Origin: North America, primarily sourced from the Pacific Northwest, Northeastern United States, and Eastern Canada.

Appearance: A creamy white to light tan base packed with dense "bird’s-eye" clusters and intricate, tightly twisted grain patterns.

Character: Formed from knotty growths on the tree where the grain becomes beautifully interlocked, it is one of the most spectacular domestic burls for high-contrast figure.

Specs & Value: Depending on the parent species, it can reach a Janka hardness of ~1,450 lbf; figured slabs typically range from $15–$40 per board foot.

Origin: The Mediterranean basin, including Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Israel; sourced from the same trees that provide commercial olives.

Appearance: Features a warm yellow to light reddish-brown base with striking, bold dark brown or black veins and wild, swirling grain patterns.

Character: Deeply rooted in Mediterranean history and mythology, most olivewood is harvested sustainably through limb pruning, allowing the ancient trees to continue fruiting for centuries.

Specs & Value: An exceptionally hard and heavy wood (Janka 2,700 lbf) typically priced at $20–$35 per board foot; because of the twisted growth of the trees, it is mostly available as small turning blanks or live-edge slabs.

Origin: Originally from tropical Africa, now grown across Southeast Asia, India, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

Appearance: Features a pale cream to golden-yellow base crisscrossed with dramatic, black "spider-web" lines that look almost hand-drawn.

Character: Sourced from the same tree that produces tamarind fruit, the wood’s signature look is caused by "spalting"—a fungal process that creates intricate patterns before being halted by the drying process.

Specs & Value: An incredibly hard tropical wood (Janka 2,710 lbf) typically priced at $15–$25 per board foot; it is a favorite for high-contrast turning projects where no two pieces are ever identical.

Origin: North Africa, primarily Morocco; it is a regional specialty historically centered in the artisan city of Essaouira.

Appearance: Features warm golden-brown to reddish-amber tones, densely packed with dark, pin-like "eye" figure that polishes to a high, glassy luster.

Character: Unique among burls, it grows exclusively in the root system and must be excavated from the earth; it is famous for a sweet, cedar-like fragrance that lasts for years.

Specs & Value: A rare softwood burl (~35 lbs/ft³) sold by the piece; due to the labor-intensive harvest and limited geographic range, whole root burls and turning blanks command premium prices.

Origin: West Africa, primarily sourced from the forests of Cameroon, Gabon, and the Congo.

Appearance: Features a light golden-cream background with bold, dark blackish-brown stripes that mimic the pattern of a zebra hide; the contrast is most dramatic in quartersawn cuts.

Character: Often called Zebrano, it is a stiff, durable wood favored for high-impact visual designs, such as striped cutting boards where it contrasts sharply with darker species.

Specs & Value: A heavy, hard-wearing species (Janka 1,830 lbf) typically priced at $18–$28 per board foot; it is currently listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.