Wood Species Guide: groups
Firs & Spruces
Firs and spruces are the light, strong conifers behind most of the framing lumber and plywood in North America. Douglas fir is the standout in this group. It is not a true fir, but it is one of the strongest softwoods for its weight, with straight grain and a warm orange-tan color that looks great as exposed beams, doors and rustic tables. Vertical-grain Douglas fir is prized for trim and stair treads because it wears evenly. True firs and spruces are lighter and paler, used for construction lumber and the soundboards of guitars and pianos. These woods are easy to cut and glue but can splinter, and their resin can gum up blades. They are only moderately rot resistant, so in Florida keep them indoors or well finished. Open the Douglas fir page below for strength, finishing tips and how it compares with other softwoods. Ask us about other firs and spruces.
13 species in this group.
- Balsam FirAbies balsamea Balsam fir is the classic fragrant Christmas tree of the Northeast. Its soft, light wood ends up in SPF framing lumber, crates and paper.
- Douglas FirPseudotsuga menziesii Douglas fir is the strong, warm-toned workhorse of American construction lumber. Clear vertical-grain boards make handsome rustic tables, beams and mantels at a friendly price.
- Eastern HemlockTsuga canadensis Eastern hemlock is a coarse, splintery eastern softwood used for framing, timbers and barn siding. An invasive insect is killing many trees, and much of the...
- Engelmann SprucePicea engelmannii Engelmann spruce is a light, pale spruce from the high Rockies. Luthiers like it for warm, responsive guitar tops, and the rest goes into framing lumber.
- Grand FirAbies grandis Grand fir is one of the tallest true firs of the Pacific Northwest, sold mostly as Hem-Fir framing lumber. Its wood is light, pale and easy...
- Noble FirAbies procera Noble fir is a tall Cascade Mountain fir known for premium Christmas trees and clear, straight lumber. It is one of the stronger true firs for...
- Norway SprucePicea abies Norway spruce is Europe's most common spruce and the traditional soundboard wood of violins and European guitars. Most of it is everyday construction lumber, but tonewood...
- Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis Sitka spruce is the light, stiff Pacific coast softwood behind most acoustic guitar tops and wooden masts. It has one of the best strength-to-weight ratios of...
- TamarackLarix laricina Tamarack is North America's eastern larch, a conifer that turns gold and drops its needles each fall. Its dense, resinous heartwood was a favorite for boat...
- Western HemlockTsuga heterophylla Western hemlock is the fine-grained, pitch-free hemlock of the Pacific Northwest. Clear vertical-grain boards make clean, affordable trim, doors and paneling.
- Western LarchLarix occidentalis Western larch is one of the hardest and strongest North American softwoods, with reddish heartwood and bold growth rings. It is often sold alongside Douglas fir...
- White FirAbies concolor White fir is a soft, pale western true fir sold as Hem-Fir framing lumber. It is light, easy to work and paints cleanly.
- White SprucePicea glauca White spruce is the common spruce of Canada's boreal forest and a big part of SPF framing lumber. It is pale, light and even-grained.
Not sure which wood fits your project?
Walk the racks with us in Fort Myers. We'll show you the slabs and boards side by side and talk through hardness, finish and budget.