Canadian Species

There are more than a hundred softwood species in North America. To simplify the supply and use of structural softwood lumber, species in major lumber producing areas having similar strength characteristics are combined. Having a smaller number of combinations makes it easier for a building inspector to ensure that products having the design strengths specified by the building designer are installed. Because non-structural products are graded solely on the basis of appearance quality, non-structural products are usually sold as individual species (for example, eastern white pine, Western Red Cedar, Douglas fir).

Species Included in Combination	Growth Regions
Pacific Coast Hemlock      Amabilis Fir
Characteristics	Colour Ranges
Yellow brown to white Works Easily Takes paint well Holds nails well Good gluing characteristics

Species Combination: Spruce - Pine - Fir

Abbreviation: S-P-F

Species Included in Combination	Growth Regions
White Spruce Englemann Spruce Red Spruce Black Spruce Jack Pine Lodgepole Pine Balsam Fir Alpine Fir
Characteristics	Colour Ranges
White to pale yellow Works easily Takes paint well Holds nails well Good gluing characteristics

Species Combination: Northern Species

Abbreviation: North 

Species Included in Combination	Growth Regions
Western Red Cedar
Characteristics	Colour Ranges
Reddish brown heartwood, light sapwood Exceptional resistance to decay Moderate strength High in appearance qualities Works easily Takes fine finishes Lowest shrinkage

Also Included in Northern Species	Growth Regions
Red Pine
Characteristics	Colour Ranges
Works easily	Reddish to pale brown heartwood

Also Included in Northern Species	Growth Regions
Ponderosa Pine
Characteristics	Colour Ranges
Takes finish well Holds nails well Holds screws well Seasons with little checking or cupping	Pale yellow colour sapwood

Also Included in Northern Species	Growth Regions
Western White Pine Eastern White Pine
Characteristics	Colour Ranges
Creamy white to light straw brown heartwood, almost white sapwood Softest of Canadian pines Works easily Finishes well Doesn't tend to split or splinter Holds nails well low shrinkage Takes stains, paints & varnishes well

Also Included in Northern Species	Growth Regions
Trembling Aspen Largetooth Aspen Balsam Poplar
Characteristics	Colour Ranges
Works easily Finishes well Holds nails well	Almost white to greyish-white

The Spruce-Pine-Fir species group makes up by far the largest proportion of dimension lumber since the species in this group grow throughout most of Canada. The other major species groups for dimension lumber are Douglas Fir-Larch (N)and Hem-Fir (N). Northern Species include the other commercial species for Canadian lumber.