American hickory and American pecan are different species of a very diverse group, but in the round (log) they are virtually indistinguishable from each other and therefore often processed by saw mills and sold mixed together.  The trees grow naturally throughout the Eastern U.S. and Forest Industry Analysis (FIA) data shows that Hickory makes up 5.4% of total U.S. hardwood growing stock. While 6.5 million m³ of hickory is harvested each year, more than 14 million m³ grow naturally in the hardwood forests each year. The wood of hickory varies greatly in colour, grain pattern and appearance. It is rather coarse, strong, heavy and very hard. The hardwearing properties make it an excellent choice for flooring, especially in situations of high traffic use.