Fuel characteristics of biomass from 12 tree species grown under a short rotation forestry regime were analysed. E. globulus, E. nitens and A. dealbata had the biggest trees while A. glutinosa, P. tomentosa and S. matsudana x alba 1002 had the smallest trees when the trees were harvested at the age of 3, 4 and 5 years. Higher heating value (HHV) ranged from 19.6-20.5 MJ/kg for wood, 17.4-20.6 MJ/kg for bark, and 19.5-24.1 MJ/kg for leaves, with the highest values for wood and bark being obtained from Pinus radiata. Wood basic density ranged from 250-500 kg/m(3); ash content, 0.7-1.4%; volatile matter content, 91.5-95.1%; fixed carbon content, 4.2-7.3%; and extractives content, 3.3-11.9%. Wood properties were significantly different from those of bark, and also different from those of leaves. Except basic density and the proportion of bark on the stem, properties of wood did not vary with either cutting age or stocking density. Wood from coppice crops did not differ from that of single stem, first harvest crops. Differences in tree size for species planted at similar plant populations determine species yields. Variations in properties between species and between tree parts have implications for feedstock handling, transport, drying, storage, and on the design of conversion systems.