Hickory is an important group of hardwood species found throughout the eastern hardwood forests. Botanically, hickories are divided into two main groups: the true hickories and the pecan hickories, which are fruit-bearing. In the hardwood lumber market, the wood from both groups is very similar in appearance and performance, so it is usually sold together as hickory.

The sapwood of hickory is white with a light brown tint, while the heartwood ranges from pale brown to reddish brown. This natural color variation gives hickory a strong, recognizable appearance, especially in flooring, cabinetry, and furniture, where contrast between sapwood and heartwood may be visible. Hickory is often selected when a project needs a domestic hardwood with exceptional toughness, strong grain character, and a rugged visual profile.

Hickory Grades

Applications

Common applications for Hickory include:

• Tool Handles: Hickory is a traditional choice for tool handles because of its shock resistance and ability to handle repeated impact.
• Furniture: Hickory is used for durable furniture where strength and a bold hardwood appearance are important.
• Cabinetry: Hickory cabinetry offers a strong visual character, especially when the natural contrast between sapwood and heartwood is included.
• Flooring: Hickory is a popular flooring species because it resists wear and performs well in demanding residential and commercial settings.
• Wooden Ladders: Hickory’s strength and toughness make it suitable for products that must remain dependable under stress.
• Dowels: Hickory’s hardness and density make it useful for dowels and other shaped or turned wood components.
• Sporting Goods: Hickory is used in sporting goods because it can absorb shock and withstand repeated use.

Select Hardwoods Hickory

Select Hardwoods supplies hickory for customers who need a strong, durable domestic hardwood with excellent performance characteristics. Hickory is a practical choice for manufacturers, builders, flooring producers, cabinet shops, furniture makers, and other hardwood buyers who need lumber that can stand up to heavy use.

Because hickory is dense, hard, and more difficult to work than some other hardwoods, sourcing properly prepared lumber matters. Select Hardwoods can help customers evaluate hickory for applications where strength, wear resistance, shock resistance, and natural character are important to the finished product. Contact us for more information about Hickory.

Additional Information

For more information about Hickory and other hardwood products, explore our related product pages and blog content covering hardwood characteristics, applications, grades, and milling processes to help you choose the right hardwood for your project.