Latin Name: Betula Alleghanesis
Grows in Northern United States, Appalachia and Canada
Color: sapwood is creamy white, heartwood is light reddish/brown.
Properties: strong, stiff, hard, high shrinkage (careful drying), low decay resistance
Uses:lumber, veneer, furniture, interior millwork, and turned goods.

Historically a favorite wood for furniture making because of its fine texture and warm tones. In New England rural cabinetmakers often darkened the wood to imitate mahogany which was common in urban port cities, but expensive to bring inland. The exceptional width and somewhat porous structure along with a frequently lively grain endeared this material to imitate its aristocratic counterpart. Yellow birch was commonly used by the Shakers in their furniture and in their turned and woodenware industries which they produced in large quantities.
Yellow Birch is also known for its curl or flame pattern which is beautiful but often conjures up the darkest of cuss words when worked up with a hand plane. This wood along with its cousins the white and black birch can produce one of North Americas "Native Jewels" - the crotch figure. Often thrown into the cordwood pile, this commercially unavailable, highly figured, glistening fountain of gold was once highly prized for veneered surfaces during the "Federal Period" of American furniture. It was often mistaken for satinwood by highly knowledgeable dealers and collectors of antiques!

David Lamb