What Wood Retains Its Bark for Rustic Building?

Tree Anatomy

• The bark on a tree is the dead layer of cells that protects the inner tree from damage. The layer under the bark is called the cambium. It is moist and is responsible for tree growth and healing. The cambium retains moisture in the winter months and is attractive to bugs and burrowing insects. Both moisture and bugs in the cambium layer can cause bark to separate from wood that has been cut.

Dogwood

• Dogwood bark can range from orange to dark red and can make a visually striking material for rustic building. Its slender branches tend to retain its smooth bark, making it an ideal building material for furniture and other small rustic building projects. However, the kousa dogwood is one type of tree that sheds its bark copiously, leaving tan and gray patches on the trunk and branches of the tree. The kousa dogwood is a less attractive material for rustic building because it does not retain its bark well.

Alder

• Alder is used by furniture makers to build rustic furniture. It will retain its bark if the branches are kiln-dried immediately after cutting. The bark becomes permanently fused to the wood in the drying process, and a clear finish can be added to preserve both the wood and bark. Alder is actually a large shrub that can grow as high as 40 feet. Its stems are unusual because they are three-sided, creating a singular look for twig furniture.

Hemlock

• Hemlock is a flat-needled conifer used for rustic furniture. While the bark used to be peeled for the tannin it contains to tan animal hides, it will readily retain its bark. The bark is thick, with deep ridges and feels like cork. It is medium brown in color, but some hemlock trees have an orange bark. The orange to brown bark color makes it suited for building colorful rustic furniture such as tables and chairs.