Color
Heartwood is creamy white to light reddish brown. Sapwood is pale to creamy white.

Grain
Closed, subdued grain, with medium figuring and uniform texture. Occasionally shows quilted, fiddleback, curly or bird’s-eye figuring. Figured boards often culled during grading and sold at a premium.

Variations
Black maple (B. nigrum) is also hard; other species are classified as soft.

Finishing
Takes neutral finish well. May be difficult to stain.

Origin
North America

Availability
Easily available. Figured grains have limited availability.

Source: National Wood Flooring Association