Prunus serotina Cherry grows throughout the eastern United States except for the southern part of Florida, ranging from the Canadian border to the Gulf, and from the Atlantic Coast to the Great Plains. It does not grow in abundance in the Appalachian area, representing about one percent of the volume of timber and lumber production. Cherry is a highly-prized wood for furniture, and in its northern range is extensively cut into veneer. The lumber is cut from the fine trees in the Appalachian area, but the gum spots, typical of Cherry wood, are often too large for veneer to be made from trees from this area. Black, covered with thin small scales turned up at edges, ridges running up and down and crossways giving a plated effect.
Wood is diffuse, porous with indistinct grain pattern.
It is of medium hardness and weighs about 2.2 lbs. There are 19 species of hickory native to the United States. In the identification of lumber, however, all hickories are identified as such by a National Hardwood Lumber Association inspector and no separation is made. These are southern species for the most part and are not of commercial importance in the Appalachian area. The shagbark hickory grows throughout the eastern United States except for the South Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains.