African Black Wood

Often completely black, with little or no discernible grain. Occasionally slightly lighter, with a dark brown or purplish hue. The pale yellow sapwood is usually very thin, and is clearly demarcated from the darker heartwood.
African blackwood is very expensive, on par with true ebonies. The tree grows so slowly, and is generally small and gnarly it is hard to obtain. Considered to be the original ebony. It is also considered to be among the hardest and densest of woods in the world, very difficult to work with.

 

African Rose Wood
(Eastern Africa)

African Rosewood tends to be an orange or reddish brown, with darker contrasting streaks. Lighter yellowish sapwood is clearly demarcated from heartwood.
Very expensive African Rosewood is a rare wood and supplies are very limited. It is most often sold as turning stock.

 

Apple
(All Temperate Climates)

Heartwood can vary from a light reddish or grayish brown to a deeper red/brown. The grain of Apple is sometimes seen with streaks of darker and lighter bands of color, similar to Olive. Sapwood is a pale cream color.
Apple is seldom available in timber form, and is usually seen only in very small sizes when available. Rather expensive, and is usually meant for only small projects and specialized applications.

 

Australian Blackwood
(Australia)

Color can be highly variable, but tends to be medium golden or reddish brown.

Fairly expensive, and figured wood can be very expensive.
Although called ‘blackwood,’ the name is somewhat of a misnomer, as its wood is not really black. Rather, its lustrous golden brown grain has been used as a sustainable alternative to the closely related koa.

 

Beech
(Europe and Asia)

Pale straw color, sometimes with a pink or brown hue. Veneer tends to be slightly darker colored, as slicing the veneer usually requires the wood to be prepared with steam, which gives the wood a more golden tone.
European beech is widely available across Europe, and it very economically priced within its natural range.

 

Black Limba
(Tropical West Africa)

Heartwood is a light yellowish to golden brown, sometimes with grey to nearly black streaks and veins. Wood with such darker figuring is referred to as Black Limba, while plain unfigured wood is called White Limba.
Prices are moderate for an imported hardwood, though figured wood such as Black Limba is likely to be more expensive. This wood goes by a number of names, and historically has been called Afara or Korina, in addition to its now-prevalent moniker Limba.

 

Bocote
(Mexico & South America)

Has a yellowish brown body with dramatic dark brown to almost black stripes. Color tends to darken with age. Somewhat expensive, close to other mid-to-high priced exotic hardwoods.
With its striking, zebra-like contrasts, and bold figuring, Bocote can be a very eye-catching wood. It’s not uncommon to see many “eyes” and other figuring in Bocote.

 

Boxwood
(Europe-Africa-Asia)

Color tends to be a light cream to yellow, which tends to darken slightly with prolonged exposure to light. Sapwood not distinct from heartwood.
Usually only available in small quantities and sizes, Boxwood tends to be very expensive.
the tree’s diminutive size restricts it to smaller projects.
Boxwood’s ability to hold crisp details in carvings and lathe work, in combination with its color and silky-fine texture truly make it a classic.

 

Brown Ivory
(South Africa)

Brown Ivory ranges in color from a dark brownish colour to a bright, light brown. Typically the most valuable pieces of Brown Ivory are a vibrant brown. Brown Ivory can commonly be seen with a curly or fiddleback grain pattern, further enhancing its visual impact.
Reputed to be a scarce commodity, Brown Ivory is typically very expensive, usually on par with Gaboon Ebony

 

Bubinga
(Equatorial Africa)

Heart wood ranges from a pinkish red to a darker reddish brown with darker purple or black streaks. Sapwood is a pale straw color and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood. Bubinga is very frequently seen with a variety of figure, including pommele, flamed, waterfall, quilted, mottled.
Prices for unfigured wood are in the mid range for an imported hardwood. Figured grain patterns such as waterfall, pommele, etc. are much more expensive.

 

Canadian Maple
(Canada)

There are numerous grain variations, such as curl, quilt, burl, and birdseye, but there’s also special abnormalities that produce different colors or patterns, such as ambrosia, spalt, and the pink fungal discoloration of box elder.
Plain Maple is common but figured Maple is hard to find.

 

Chacarte Preto
(Tropical Americas)

Heartwood medium brown with a reddish cast (or sometimes olive-colored cast). Darker brown streaks common. Sharply demarcated from the pale sapwood. Color darkens with age. Prices ar high for this imported hardwood.
A very close relative of Bocote in both anatomy and appearance, Louro Preto doesn’t always have the stunning grain patterns that are commonplace in Bocote.

 

Cherry
(Europe and Asia)

Heartwood is a light pinkish brown when freshly cut, darkening to a deeper golden brown with time and upon exposure to light. Sapwood is a pale yellowish color, typically 1-2″ wide. Only available in Europe
(or from orchards) Prices moderate within the tree’s natural distribution.
Sweet Cherry is the Old World counterpart to Black Cherry found in North America. Sweet Cherry is said to exhibit a bit more of a color contrast than
Black Cherry.

 

Chestnut
(North America Europe)

Heart wood is a light to medium brown, darkening to a reddish brown with age. Narrow sapwood is well-defined and is pale white to light brown.
Because of the blight wiping out nearly all mature American Chestnut trees, its wood is both rare and (relatively) valuable.
Caused by an accidentally introduced Asian bark fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica), the chestnut blight of the early 1900s was responsible for killing over three billion chestnut trees.

 

Curupay
(South America)

Heart wood is a pale to medium reddish brown, frequently with darker brown to black streaks throughout. Color tends to darken with age. Sapwood is a pale yellow to pinkish brown.
Prices in the mid-range for an imported exotic hardwood.
Sometimes sold as cebil, or by the exaggerated name Patagonian rosewood. Despite this common name, curupary is not closely related to the true rose woods in the Dalbergia genus

 

Ebony
(Africa and Asia)

Heartwood is usually jet-black, with little to no variation or visible grain. Occasionally dark brown or grayish-brown streaks may be present. Ebony is among the most expensive of all available hard woods, usually about two to three times more expensive than most species of Rosewood. The small size of the tree, and its high demand for ornamental work may contribute to its seemingly outlandish price. So named because historically most of the wood was exported from the nation of Gabon, though today it’s much more likely to be sourced from Cameroon.

 

English Elm
(Western Europe)

Heartwood is light to medium reddish brown. Paler sapwood is usually well defined. Burls of English Elm are frequently referred to as Carpathian Elm burl.
Moderately priced within its natural habitat in Europe, though availability from mature trees has been greatly diminished by Dutch elm disease.

Carpathian Elm burl is occasionally available, and is among the most expensive woods commercially available.

 

English Maple
(Europe)

There are numerous grain variations, such as curl, quilt, burl, and birdseye, but there’s also special abnormalities that produce different colors or patterns, such as ambrosia, spalt, and the pink fungal discoloration of box elder.
Plain Maple is common but figured Maple is hard to find.

 

English Yew
(Europe)

Sapwood is usually a thin band of pale yellow or tan color, while the heartwood is an orangish brown, sometimes with a darker brown or purplish hue. Color tends to darken with age.
Yew is relatively uncommon, the overall cost of usable wood tends to be high.

 

Indian Rose
(India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia)

Heartwood of East Indian Rosewood can vary from a golden brown to a deep purplish brown, with darker brown streaks. The wood darkens with age, usually becoming a deep brown.

Prices to be high for an imported hardwood, though not as prohibitively high as some of the scarcer rosewoods.

 

Juniper
(North America)

Part of the Red Wood Family.
Heartwood ranges from a pale pinkish orange to darker reddish brown, sometimes with streaks and portions of lighter colored sapwood intermixed, similar to the related eastern red cedar. Prices are moderate, though old-growth or specialty pieces are likely to be much more expensive. Western juniper is a fairly common tree throughout much of Oregon, and over the past 20th century, the species has seen a tremendous increase in population numbers.

 

Katalox
(North and South America)

Heartwood is dark reddish brown to nearly black, sometimes with a strong purple hue. Sapwood is sharply demarcated and is pale yellowish white. Pieces with curly or wavy grain are not uncommon.
Usually available in turning squares or as figured wood (generally with a large amount of sapwood present). Prices in the mid to upper range for an imported tropical hardwood.

 

King Wood
(Brazil)

Heartwood is a dark purplish or reddish brown with darker black streaks. Sapwood is pale yellow and sharply demarcated from the heartwood
Grain is usually straight or occasionally interlocked. Fine, uniform texture and a high natural luster.
Likely to be very expensive, and seldom available as lumber due to the small size of the tree itself.
Kingwood is most often seen as smaller turning stock, with its cost being on par with other scarce rosewoods.

 

Knob Thorn
(Africa)

Considered a protected tree in South Africa. Knob Thorn isn’t frequently available. It is sometimes sold as small turning squares and smaller craft blanks.
Prices are high for an imported hardwood. Heartwood is dark to light brown. Sapwood is light yellow.
Rated as very durable; good insect resistance Uniform medium texture.

 

Lati
(Central West Africa)

Heartwood is a light yellowish brown. Yellowish sapwood isn’t always defined from heartwood. Lati is sometimes called white wenge because of the similarity of its grain patterns.
Not commonly seen or imported, lati is occasionally offered for sale in small quantities. Prices are moderate for an imported hardwood.

 

Leopard Wood
(Central and South America)

Has a very conspicuous flecking that gives this wood its namesake. The wood itself is a medium to dark reddish brown with grey or light brown rays, which resemble the spots of a leopard. Prices for Leopardwood tend to be medium to high for an imported wood.
Leopardwood is frequently confused with Lacewood, and is sometimes referred to as such.

 

London Plane
(Western Europe)

Similar to maple, the wood of London Plane trees is predominantly comprised of the sapwood, with some darker heartwood streaks also found.
London Plane also has very distinct ray flecks present giving it a freckled appearance.

Moderately priced if available domestically.

 

Maca
(Eastern Australia)

Heartwood color ranges from a pale pink to darker reddish brown. Very large rays exhibit a lacewood-like effect. Color tends to darken with age.
Supplies are limited, with prices high for an imported wood.
The lacewood-like timber that the tree yields is highly decorative, and perfectly suited for smaller specialty projects.

 

Malaysian Black Wood
(Malaysia)

Heartwood ranges from a medium brown to nearly black. Commonly with black veining and contrasting brown or reddish streaks. Heartwood can also have a greenish hue. Sharply demarcated sapwood is a pale yellow to tan color.
Seldom available, Malaysian Blackwood is very expensive

 

Monkey Pod
(Central & South America)

Color tends to be a golden to dark brown, sometimes with darker streaks. Sapwood is usually thin and yellow/white, clearly demarcated from the heartwood. Monkeypod is sometimes seen with highly figured curly or wild grain patterns.
Prices are in the mid to high range for imported wood.
So named for the spiral-shaped fruit pods which the tree bears. Outside of Hawaii, one of the most common names for the species is Raintree.

 

Mulberry
(North America)

Heartwood is a golden brown, darkening to a medium/reddish brown with age. Sapwood is a pale yellowish white. Smaller pieces are sometimes available locally throughout the tree’s natural range. Expect prices to be high for a domestic hardwood.
Common Uses: Furniture, and Turned objects.

 

Olive Wood
(Europe and Eastern Africa)

Heartwood is a cream or yellowish brown, with darker brown or black contrasting streaks. Color tends to deepen with age. Olive is somtimes figured with curly or wavy grain, burl, or wild grain.
Short wood turning squares, and burls are occasionally available from wild trees, as well as the closely related East African Olive (O. capensis). Prices are very high.

 

Padauk
(West Africa)

Heart wood color can vary, ranging from a pale pinkish orange to a deep brownish red.
Widely imported as turning and craft blanks. Moderately priced for an import.

Has a very unique reddish orange coloration, and the wood is sometimes referred to by the name Vermillion. Unfortunately, this dramatic color is inevitably darkened to a deep reddish brown color.

 

Panga Panga
(Eastern Africa)

Heartwood is a very dark brown with black streaks. Upon application of a wood finish (particularly an oil-finish) the wood can become nearly black.
Prices on the high side, close to other exotic tropical hardwoods such as Cocobolo or Zebrawood.
Panga Panga is very similar in working properties and appearance to Wenge, and it’s not uncommon for the two species to be used and mixed interchangeably.

 

Pau Rosa
(African Rainforests)

Heart wood tends to vary in color from a pink or yellow to a darker reddish brown, with darker brown streaks common.
Color tends to darken with age. Not too commonly seen Pau Rosa should be in the mid to high range for an imported African hardwood.

 

Pear
(Central and Eastern Europe)

Heartwood is a pale pink or light reddish brown. Sapwood is slightly paler but is not usually distinct from heartwood. A popular and premium hardwood in Europe, Pear is only availability in limited quantities, prices to be high for an imported European hardwood.
It’s been said that Pear is used in Europe much in the same way that Black Cherry is used in the United States.

 

Pink Ivory
(Africa)

Pink Ivory trees are said to be both rare and valuable, and have been rumored to be “rarer than diamonds.” Other reports state that the tree is relatively common in some areas of South Africa—though large trees with straight, defect-free trunks are much more scarce. According to folklore, the tree is considered sacred to the Zulus in South Africa and is reserved for royalty
Reputed to be a scarce commodity, Pink Ivory is typically very expensive, usually on par with Gaboon Ebony: another pricey African import.

 

Plum Wood
(Available Worldwide)

Plum heartwood can exhibit a cornucopia of colors, typically a yellowish brown, with streaks of pink, orange, red, purple, olive, or gray mixed in. Because of the small size of plum trees, swirled or irregular grain, as well as knots and other defects are common.
Most commonly sold in turning blanks or other small sections. Prices are likely to be high for a domestic wood. Although Plum is related to Cherry, it tends to be heavier and harder than Cherry, and much more scarce. Sizes are very limited, so Plum tends to be assigned primarily to smaller, more decorative purposes.

 

Rubinia
(North America Europe)

Sapwood is narrow and clearly defined from the heart wood which is greenish in colour when freshly cut, turning golden-brown after drying. The timber is heavy and hard. Not Common Limited availability.

 

Sapele
(Tropical Africa)

Heartwood is a golden to dark reddish brown. Color tends to darken with age. Sapele is also known for a wide variety of other figured grain patterns, such as: pommele, quilted, mottled, wavy, beeswing, and fiddleback.
Figured wood can be extremely expensive, particularly pommele or quilted Sapele.

 

Sassafras
(East United States)

Heart wood is a medium to light brown, sometimes with an orange or olive hue. Color tends to darken with age. Sapwood is a paler yellowish brown, though it isn’t always clearly demarcated from the heartwood.

Sassafras oil can be extracted from the root bark or fruit of the tree. These same roots were traditionally used in the making of root beer, and the familiar scent is prevalent in the leaves and wood.

 

Snake Wood
(South America)

Snakewood is among the densest and hardest of all wood species worldwide. Among woodworkers, it vies with lignum vitae as the heaviest commercial wood in the world.
Prices for surfaced and milled snakewood that display the characteristic snakeskin pattern are perhaps the most expensive of any exotic wood
Wood is typically a reddish brown, with contrasting darker brown or black patches. Color tends to darken and homogenize with age and exposure.

 

Spalted Beech
(Europe & America)

There are many different kinds of Beech and Spalting is simply a fungal discoloration of wood, and can be found on a wide range of wood species. Although Beech is easy to obtain, Spalted Beech is not common and commands a higher price.
Some other temperate species where spalting is seen include sycamore, hackberry, maple, birch, and hickory, as well as tropical species such as tamarind and mango.

 

Spalted Birch
(Europe & America)

There are many different kinds of Birch and Spalting is simply a fungal discoloration of wood, and can be found on a wide range of wood species. Although Birch is easy to obtain, Spalted Birch is not common and commands a higher price.
Some other temperate species where spalting is seen include sycamore, hackberry, maple, beech, and hickory, as well as tropical species such as tamarind and mango.

 

Spalted Maple
(Northern Hemisphere)

There are many different kinds of Maple and Spalting is simply a fungal discoloration of wood, and can be found on a wide range of wood species. Although Maple is easy to obtain, Spalted Maple is not common and commands a higher price.
Some other temperate species where spalting is seen include sycamore, hackberry, beech, birch, and hickory, as well as tropical species such as tamarind and mango.

 

Sycamore
(Eastern United States)

Similar to maple, the wood of Sycamore trees is predominantly comprised of the sapwood, with some darker heart wood streaks. The sapwood is white to light tan, while the heartwood is a darker reddish brown.
Moderately priced. Not to be confused with European Sycamore—which is actually just a species of maple Sycamore is sometimes referred to as “American Plane” in Europe.

 

Thai Rosewood
(Thailand)

Heartwood is a medium to dark reddish brown with darker brown to black streaks throughout. Sapwood is a pale yellowish white, sharply demarcated from heartwood. Increasingly scarce due to recent CITES restrictions. Turning blanks and burls are occasionally available. Prices are high for an imported hardwood. A tree in Thailand is currently guarded day and night by an entire platoon of Thai soldiers.

 

Tulip Wood
(Brazil)

Heart wood is streaked with yellows, reds, oranges, and pinks. Color and figure can be highly variegated.

Very expensive. Tulipwood is most often seen as smaller turning stock, with its cost being on par with other scarce exotics in the Dalbergia genus.

 

Walnut
(Worldwide)

There are many different types of Walnut.
Heartwood can range from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. Color can sometimes have a gray, purple, or reddish cast. Sapwood is nearly white. European Walnut can occasionally also be found with figured grain patterns such as: curly, crotch, and burl. Walnut is likely to be rather expensive.

 

Wenge Wood
(Africa)

Heartwood is medium brown, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish hue, with nearly black streaks. Upon application of a wood finish (particularly an oil finish) the wood can become nearly black
Prices are high, and are likely to remain so as supplies dwindle.
It is listed as endangered due to a population reduction of over 50% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation.

 

White Limba
(Tropical Western Africa)

Heartwood is a light yellowish to golden brown, sometimes with grey to nearly black streaks and veins. Wood with such darker figuring is referred to as Black Limba, while plain unfigured wood is called White Limba. Sapwood is a pale greyish to yellowish brown.
Prices are average for an imported hardwood, though figured wood such as Black Limba is likely to be more expensive. This wood goes by a number of names, and historically has been called Afara or Korina, in addition to its now-prevalent moniker Limba.

 

Zebra
(Europe and Asia)

Heartwood is a light brown or cream color with dark blackish brown streaks vaguely resembling a zebra’s stripes. Depending on whether the wood is flatsawn or quarter sawn, the stripes can be either chaotic and wavy (flatsawn), or somewhat uniform (quartersawn).
Zebra woods tends to be fairly expensive, though usually not as prohibitively expensive as other exotics such as Ebony or Rosewood.

 

Zebrano
(West Africa)

 

Heartwood is a light brown or cream color with dark blackish brown streaks vaguely resembling a zebra’s stripes. Zebrawood tends to be fairly expensive, though usually not as prohibitively expensive as other exotics such as Ebony or Rosewood. It is listed as vulnerable due to a population reduction of over 20% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range.

 

Ziricote
(Central America Mexico)

Color ranges from medium to dark brown, sometimes with either a green or purple hue, with darker bands of black growth rings intermixed. Quite expensive, exceeding the price of some rosewoods, and approaching the cost of some types of ebony.
A truly unique-looking wood, Ziricote has very few imitators; perhaps only the occasional piece of figured Brazilian Rosewood exhibits the same spider-webbing grain figure.