Alder

Low Quality. Although Alder wood tends to burn quickly when fully seasoned, it gives off little heat.

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Apple

Extremely hard stuff once seasoned. Apple wood burns with a gorgeous aroma, and doesn’t tend to spark or spit.

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Ash

One of the best woods for fuel producing lovely flames and great heat, even when green. Use the branches for kindling.

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Beech

Very good firewood which produces both heat and flame. Beech can sometimes give off a few sparks. Season for a year.

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Birch

A good firewood producing a great fire and burns fairly quickly, even unseasoned. Can use the bark as kindling.

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Blackthorn

Although the logs are small, Blackthorn burns slowly and gives off lots of heat and little smoke.

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Cedar

Not a good wood to burn on open fires as it spits and sparks. Lovely aroma. Ideal for kindling. Needs long seasoning

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Cherry

Season well. Burns slowly without spitting. Pleasant smell.

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Douglas Fir

Produces lots of flame but burns very quickly.

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Elder

Smoky quick burner. Not much heat and not commonly used for firewood.

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Elm

Huge water content so needs long seasoning. Good firewood, burns slowly, giving constant heat.

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Eucalyptus

Not commonly used as firewood. Burns quickly without spitting.

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Hawthorn

Excellent firewood, burns hot and slowly. Even the smaller twigs are worth using.

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Hazel

Excellent firewood when seasoned. No spitting, burns quickly.

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Holly

Good firewood only when seasoned.

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Hornbeam

Good firewood, producing a hot slow-burning fire. Tip – prepare before seasoning as it is a very hard wood.

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Horse Chestnut

Lots of spitting but good flame and heat. Needs long seasoning.

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Larch

Tendency to spit and produces an oily soot in chimneys.

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Laurel

Produces a lovely flame, little heat.

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Lime

Poor, low quality fuel.

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Maple

A good quality fuel-producing wood.

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Oak

Excellent firewood. Burns slowly, giving off plenty of heat. Oak that hasn’t been seasoned long enough, 2 years ideal, can give off an acrid smoke.

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Pear

Good heat, as well as a gorgeous aroma.

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Pine

Good flame and scent but spits and leaves an oily soot in your chimney.

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Plum

Good Heat and Scent

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Poplar

Poor quality firewood.

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Rowan

Produces a good, hot, slow-burning fire.

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Spruce

Not a good firewood, burning too quickly and producing lots of sparks.

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Sweet Chestnut

Not suitable for an open fire as it spits excessively all the time.

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Sycamore

Good firewood, burning well, but produces only moderateheat.

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Walnut

Burns well with pleasant smell

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Willow

Burns well if seasoned properly little flame can spark.

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Yew

One of the best. Burns slowly and produces lots of heat.

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