Wood types

Name:  Alder 

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate:  Fast

Heat output:  Low

Spitting: -

More Information:  Opinions vary but it is generally considered as a poor firewood. It burns quickly and gives off little heat.

Water content:  -

Quality:  Low

Name:  Alder 

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate:  Slow

Heat output:  High

Spitting: Low

More Information:  Needs to be seasoned well. Burns slowly with a good heat output and produces a pleasant smell with little sparking or spitting.

Water content: -

Quality:  High

Name : Ash

Type : Hardwood

Burn rate:  -

Heat output : High

Spitting: -

More Information : One of the best firewoods and has a low moisture content when green. It can be burned green but like all wood is best when seasoned. Gives a good heat output, good flame and burns slowly.

Water content : Low

Quality : High

Name:  Beech

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate:  -

Heat output:  High

Spitting:  High

More information:  Beech has a high water content and needs a long seasoning period. Burns well but has a tendency to spark.

Water content:  High

Quality:  Low

Name:  Birch

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate:  Fast

Heat output:  -

Spitting:  -

More information:  Birch burns easily and can be burnt unseasoned. It also burns very quickly so is often best mixed with a slower burning wood such as Oak or Elm. Birch bark can make an excellent fire-lighter.

Water content:  -

Quality:  Medium-High

Name: Blackthorn

Type: Hardwood

Burn rate: Slow

Heat output: High

Spitting: -

More information: Another good firewood, burns slowly, good heat output and little smoke.

Water content: -

Quality: High

Name:  Blackthorn

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate:  Slow

Heat output:  High

Spitting:  -

More information:  Another good firewood, burns slowly, good heat output and little smoke.

Water content:  -

Quality:  High

Name:  Cherry

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate:  Slow

Heat output: -

Spitting:  Low

More information:  Needs to be seasoned well. Burns well with a pleasant smell and without spitting.

Water content:  High

Quality:  Low-Medium

Name:  Douglas Fir

Type: Softwood

Burn rate: Fast

Heat output: Low

Spitting: -

More information:  Not a very good firewood, produces little flame or heat.

Water content: -

Quality:  Low

Name: Elder

Type: Hardwood

Burn rate: Fast

Heat output: Low

Spitting:  -

More information: Burns quickly with little heat output. Produces lots of smoke.

Water content: -

Quality: Low

Name:  Elm

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate:  Slow

Heat output: High

Spitting: -

More information: A good firewood but due to its high water content it must be seasoned very well. It may need assistance from another faster burning wood such as Birch to keep it burning well. However it gives off a good, lasting heat and burns very slowly.

Water content: High

Quality: Low-Medium

Name: Hawthorn

Type: Hardwood

Burn rate: Slow

Heat output: High

Spitting: -

More information: Good firewood. Burns well with good heat output and little smoke. Hawthorn can be difficult to split as straight lengths are rare.

Water content: -

Quality: Medium-High

Name: Hazel

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate: Fast

Heat output: High

Spitting: Low

More information: Excellent firewood. Burns quickly without spitting

Water content: Low

Quality:  High

Name:  Holly

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate: -

Heat output:  High

Spitting: -

More information:  Can be burnt green. A good firewood.

Water content: -

Quality:  High

Name:  Hornbeam

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate: -

Heat output:  High

Spitting:  -

More information:  Good firewood. Burns well.

Water content: -

Quality:  High

Name:  Horse Chestnut

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate: -

Heat output:  -

Spitting:  High

More information:  A low quality firewood, spits a lot.

Water content: -

Quality:  Low

Name:  Larch

Type:  Softwood

Burn rate: -

Heat output: -

Spitting:  High

More information:  Needs to be seasoned well. Spits excessively while it burns and can produce a lot of soot deposits that can line the flue, firebox and glass window of your stove.

Water content:  High

Quality: Low

Name:  Lime

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate: -

Heat output: -

Spitting: -

More information:  A low quality firewood.

Water content: -

Quality:  Low

Name:  Oak

Type: -

Burn rate:  Slow

Heat output:  High

Spitting:  Low

More information:  One of the best firewoods but needs a long seasoning period due to its density. Burns slowly and is long lasting. On smaller stoves it is best burnt in smaller pieces than other woods.

Water content:  High

Quality:  High

Name:  Pear

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate: -

Heat output:  High

Spitting:  Low

More information:  Needs to be seasoned well. Burns well with a pleasant smell and without spitting.

Water content:  High

Quality:  High

Name:  Pine

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate:  Medium

Heat output:  Medium

Spitting:  High

More information:  Burns well but tends to spit and can leave sooty deposits. The resinous wood makes good kindling.

Water content: -

Quality:  Low

Name:  Plane

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate: -

Heat output: -

Spitting: -

More information:  A usable firewood.

Water content: -

Quality:  High

Name:  Poplar

Type:  Softwood

Burn rate:  Slow

Heat output: -

Spitting: -

More information:  Burns slowly to produce a black choking smoke even when seasoned.

Water content: -

Quality:  Very Low

Name:  Rowan

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate: -

Heat output:  High

Spitting: -

More information:  Good firewood. Burns well.

Water content: -

Quality:  High

Name:  Spruce

Type: Softwood

Burn rate: -

Heat output: -

Spitting: -

More information:  A low quality firewood.

Water content: -

Quality:  Low

Name:  Sweet Chestnut

Type: Hardwood

Burn rate: -

Heat output: -

Spitting:  High

More information:  Burns when seasoned but spits continuously and excessively. If burning on an open fire, be wary of flying sparks.

Water content: High

Quality: Low

Name:  Sycamore

Type: Hardwood

Burn rate:  Fast

Heat output:  Medium

Spitting: -

More information:  Good firewood. Burns well but only produces a moderate heat output.

Water content: -

Quality:  High

Name:  Walnut

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate: -

Heat output: -

Spitting:  -

More information:  A low quality firewood.

Water content: - 

Quality:  Low

Name: Willow

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate: Medium

Heat output: Medium

Spitting: Willow has a high water content so only burns well when very well seasoned.

More information:

Water content: Very High

Quality: Low

Name: Yew

Type:  Hardwood

Burn rate:  -

Heat output: -

Spitting:  -

More information:  A usable firewood.

Water content:  -

Quality:  -