B.C.'s tree species

Hardwood species

From the bigleaf maple and white birch to the red alder and trembling aspen, B.C.’s hardwood species are used to make such beautiful wood products as flooring, cabinetry and furniture, as well as musical instruments, interior millwork, and more.

Trembling aspen Trembling aspen is a slender, graceful tree with smooth, greenish white bark and distinctive leaves that quiver in the slightest breeze.

Red alder Red alder is found all along the coast of B.C. and is the most plentiful hardwood in the region.

Paper (white) birch Paper birch is intolerant of shade, so it thrives in open clearings and younger forests resulting from disturbances such as wildfire and insect infestations.

Bigleaf maple Bigleaf maple, the largest maple in Canada, only grows in the southwest corner of B.C. It yields attractive wood that can be used for higher-value, appearance-grade products.

Softwood species

Discover all the fascinating facts about 12 softwood tree species growing abundantly throughout B.C., from natural-occurring insecticides and resistance to decay to a broad spectrum of structural and aesthetic properties and applications.

Yellow cedar Yellow cedar grows on B.C.’s coast and is very valuable commercially because of its straight grain, yellow colour and resistance to decay.

White and Engelmann spruce White spruce and Engelmann spruce are found across B.C.’s interior. They are part of the SPF species group, an important source of structural lumber.

Western white pine Western white pine is commonly found in the drier parts of Vancouver Island and the adjacent mainland coast and in the wetter parts of the southern interior, particularly at low elevations.

Western larch Western larch is produced predominantly as part of the Douglas-fir-larch species mix.

Subalpine fir Subalpine fir, also known as balsam or balsam fir, grows throughout B.C.’s interior and is marketed with lodgepole pine and interior spruce as the SPF (spruce-pine-fir) species group.

Sitka spruce Sitka spruce is the largest of the spruces and is used in a variety of structural products including specialized aircraft and marine applications.

Ponderosa pine Ponderosa pine is a large-crowned tree with a straight trunk. It is the largest of the western pine species and usually grows to 25 to 30 metres, although it can reach 50 metres with a diameter of two metres.

Lodgepole pine Lodgepole pine, the most abundant tree species in B.C., is marketed with interior spruce and subalpine fir as the SPF (spruce-pine-fir) species group.

Western red cedar Western red cedar is a resilient and versatile species that can be used in a wide variety of exterior and interior building applications.

Douglas-fir Douglas-fir is a large tree, reaching 85 metres on B.C’.s coast and 42 metres in B.C.'s interior.

Western hemlock Western hemlock, the most plentiful tree species on B.C.’s coast, is used for general construction, roof decking, plywood, glulam and solid beams.

Amabilis fir Amabilis fir, which grows along B.C.’s coast, combines strength and beauty and is used for structural products in residential and commercial construction.