Elastic wave velocities, particle displacement vectors, and directions of energy flux have been calculated and are given as a function of the polar angle &thgr; in the five hexagonal metals Be, Cd, Mg, Ti, and Zn. Because of elastic transverse isotropy around the hexagonal axis, the wave characteristics are functions of the angle between the hexagonal axis and the direction of propagation in the crystal only. The results of these calculations are especially useful for experimental investigations utilizing the ultrasonic pulse‐echo technique.