Michigan's 19th century lumber barons built their fortunes cutting eastern white pine. The state tree of Michigan is a tall evergreen conifer once favored for making masts on sailing ships. Today eastern white pine lumber valued for use in furniture-making, paneling, shelving and siding. Smaller trees are used as live Christmas trees, and their pliable branches and soft needles make them a popular choice for decorative holiday wreaths and garlands.
The sugar maple is among the most abundant hardwood trees of the Great Lakes region. Sugar maple trees grow to more than 100 feet tall and are important for both hardwood lumber and maple syrup production. The sugar maple is also a popular ornamental tree valued for its brilliant fall foliage. Sugar maple lumber is used in general construction, flooring, furniture and cabinet-making. The maple leaf symbol associated with Canada is a sugar maple leaf.
The northern red oak is one of several oak species growing in Michigan. Growing up to 160 feet tall, northern red oaks are shade trees commonly used to replace ash trees felled by the emerald ash borer. They are also valued for their showy display of autumn color. Northern red oak lumber is used in the manufacture of furniture, cabinets and flooring.
Other oak species found in Michigan include the burr oak, pin oak, shingle oak, white oak and black oak.
The wild black cherry tree not only produces sweet black cherries for pies, jams and other flavorings, it is also the only cherry tree that produces usable timber. The expensive timber known as "cherry" is notable for its strong red color an is the premier cabinetry and furniture wood grown in the U.S.
The American white birch, or paper birch, is recognizable for its white paperlike bark. Growing to 70 feet tall, it is a popular ornamental tree. The bark is an important winter food source for moose and white-tailed deer. The hard close-grained wood is popular in furniture-making and other projects requiring turning or lathe work.
