Maple, Oregon

The Oregon maple's huge, distinctive leaves are the largest of any maple species. It grows on the pacific coast of North America, from northern British Columbia to California, where it is widely recognised for its superb autumn foliage. It is sometimes used for maple syrup production.

Oregon maple heartwood varies from creamy white to light reddish brown with pinkish hues. The sapwood is reddish-white, sometimes with a greyish cast. Although much of the wood is straight-grained, some highly figured wood, which includes wavy, quilted, fiddle-back or birds-eye grain patterns, is also produced. Growth rings are indistinct and moderately small to medium in size. 

Oregon maple is very hardwearing, extremely stable and moderately durable. It can therefore be used for pergolas and structural framing, flooring and interior joinery. Popular for its availability in long lengths, it is only moderately easy to work with. Its high resin content sometimes crystallises on the surface of the timber but can be scraped off when dry. Oregon maple is not good for staining but takes polyurethanes well and oil can add more depth of colour.

Oregon maple is also popular as a veneer for furniture and cabinetry. Its highly figured wood is sought after for musical instruments such as guitar bodies, other stringed instruments and piano frames as well as salad bowls. The Indigenous Lakwungen people of Vancouver Island knew it as the 'Paddle Tree' and created paddles and spindle wheels from its wood.