Hardwood Trees

Among hardwood trees, there are several important species suitable for biofuels production:

Oaks, both Red¹ and White², are #2 to Loblolly Pine trees as species of importance for biofuels development in North Carolina. They are currently used in the pulp and paper industry but have even greater value in the lumber industry. Oak stands naturally regenerate well and are difficult to establish with seedlings. Most forestland in North Carolina's Piedmont is classified as natural Oak and Pine forest.
Yellow Poplar trees ³are found in all areas of North Carolina. Classified as a soft hardwood, they grow well in fertile soils. Yellow Poplar trees are primarily used in the pulp and paper industry and also in lumber production.
Sweetgums⁴grow in all areas of North Carolina. It is an important species in the production of pulp and paper and Oriented Strand Board OSB. Larger trees are used for lumber production. While most hardwood species regenerate naturally, Sweetgum trees can also be artificially regenerated by planting seedlings. The Biofuels Center of North Carolina currently has demonstration plots of Sweetgum planted at the Oxford Biofuels Campus, testing lines and various spacing densities.
Red Maples⁵ have a natural range covering all of North Carolina. This species is primarily used in the pulp andpaper industry with limited use for lumber production. The Biofuels Center of North Carolina currently has demonstration plots of Red Maple trees planted at the Oxford Biofuels Campus, testing lines and various spacing densities.
Sycamores grow⁶ in all areas of North Carolina, especially in bottomlands. It is an important species in the pulp and paper industry and OSB industry, and also has uses in lumber production. The Biofuels Center of North Carolina currently has demonstration plots of Sycamore trees planted at the Biofuels Campus, testing lines and various spacing densities.
Cottonwood⁷have a natural range that covers almost all of the Piedmont and Coastal Plains of North Carolina. Cottonwood trees are used primarily in the pulp and paper industry and have very limited use as a lumber species. Similar to Sweetgum trees, Cottonwood can also be established by artificial regeneration. Several Cottonwood species are currently being tested at the Biofuels Center of North Carolina.
While not as important as those previously listed, other hardwood species could also contribute to biofuels development, including: Cherry?, Hickory?, Birch?, Elm?, Ash?, Gum?, Beech? and Willow?.