Reclaimed Wood Species

Eastern Hemlock

Eastern hemlock or Canadian hemlock, is a coniferous tree native to eastern North America. Old growth hemlock forests were once prevalent in central and eastern Ontario. Most of Ottawa was once a hemlock forest. The eastern hemlock grows well in shade and is very long lived, with the oldest recorded specimen being at least 554 years old. The tree generally reaches heights of 100 feet, several trees have been recorded up to 173 feet. The diameter of the trunk at breast height is often 5 feet. The oldest living Hemlock in Ontario is 454 years old and is tucked away in Algonquin Park.

Eastern White Pine

Eastern White Pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America. Mature trees can easily be 200 to 250 years old. Some white pines live over 400 years. The tallest White Pines measure in at close to 190 ft tall, with a trunk diameter of 5 ft. White Pine needles contain five times the amount of Vitamin C of lemons and make an excellent tisane. The oldest living White Pine in Ontario is 486 years old.

White Oak

White oak, is one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of eastern North America. It is a long-lived oak, native to eastern North America. Not a very tall tree, typically reaching 65–85 feet, it nonetheless becomes quite massive. White oaks have been known to live up to six hundred years. The oldest living White Oak in Ontario is approximately 450 years old.

Maple

Sugar Maple is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of northeastern North America. Sugar Maple is a deciduous tree normally reaching heights of 82–115 ft tall. The Sugar Maple is an extremely important species to the ecology of many forests in North America. The oldest living Sugar Maple in Ontario is approximately 500 years old.

Eastern White Cedar

The eastern white-cedar is also called northern white-cedar, arborvitae and swamp-cedar. The name arborvitae or “tree of life” dates from the 16th century when the French explorer Jacques Cartier learned how to use the tree’s foliage to treat scurvy. Northern whitecedars found to be growing on cliff faces in Southern Ontario are the oldest trees in Eastern North America and all of Canada, growing to ages in excess of 1,653 years old.