Personally, I prefer to use Silver Maple, and its close relatives. The wood, branches, bark and leaves are all very common, easy to work with, and most importantly FREE every time there is a storm. (In fact, I actually got in trouble with the city this past week as I patrol the neighborhoods with my chainsaw and wheelbarrow "helping" my neighbors clean up their storm fall. Turns out I got a bit too much wood this time around so my vivaria are all getting makeovers AND my fire pit is a party every night...) I really like silver maple as it seems to really attract attractive lichens and mosses on the bark. These die when the wood is boiled and baked, but they end up getting well preserved by the process and look great in a viv.