A Series on Wood- Spotlight on Maple

If you think that our neighbors to the north have a monopoly on maple wood, think again. Though they use it as their country emblem and it adorns their national flag, it's actually more popular internationally than you'd think. The Canadians chose the maple leaf because of its symbolism. It stands for strength and endurance- two great qualities to bring to the table. These are also two values that Decibel Designs holds near and dear to our hearts, integrated into the ethos of our work. Because of this, we figured maple would be the perfect wood to spotlight today. 

There are about 130 species of maple around the world, mostly concentrated in Asia, although more and more are popping up in North America, Europe and across Northern Africa. A whopping 54 of these species have been categorized by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, as in danger of extinction, which means that they're even more valuable in their native habitats. 

Maples run the gamut in two varieties. As trees, they can be as tall as 148 feet. As shrubs, they can still grow up to 30 feet. When they're shrubs, you'll see a variety of stumps at the base of the shrub. Both are lucky enough to tout maple flowers. Maple flowers are red, green, yellow and orange. They begin to bloom at the end of winter and are a great source of pollen for bees. 

Products of maple, including its wood, are used across a multitude of industries. The most prolific products are its wood and the delicious syrup it elicits. Maple wood is also used by chefs to smoke meat. While we love meat and maple syrup, Decibel is slightly more interested in the two initial qualities used to describe maple-- its endurance and strength. Add these to its glossy sheen and classic look, and you have all of the ingredients for a top-shelf (yes, yes, pun intended) piece of furniture.