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What is magnolia wood?

The Wood Guide · The wood register

Broadleaf wood · reference

Magnolia wood

Light yellow to cream with a fine, even grain. The wood cabinetmakers, carvers and turners choose for its workability.

  • Genus Magnolia
  • ± 210 species
  • Fine and even
Magnolia spp.
Old, mature magnolia tree in full bloom (Magnolia kobus)
Old, mature magnolia tree in full bloomMagnolia kobus
In pictures · Magnolia wood1 / 6
Chapter 1 · The species

Magnolia wood

Light yellow to cream with a fine, even grain. The wood cabinetmakers, carvers and turners choose for its workability.

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Summary

Magnolia in brief

From trees of the genus Magnolia — about 210 species of flowering plants that occur naturally in North and South America, the Caribbean and East Asia.

The appeal of magnolia wood lies not in hardness or durability but in its evenness. A fine to medium texture, an even grain without pronounced growth-ring contrast, and a grain direction that can be carved in any direction without tearing out.

That is exactly what a carver or turner is looking for: wood that does what the knife asks. Cabinetmakers value it for the same reason, and because it is light without sacrificing strength.

Colour with a tinge

Usually light yellow to cream, sometimes with a green or brown tint — that greenish tinge is typical of magnolia and partly fades on exposure to light. The heartwood can be slightly darker than the sapwood.

Botanical
Magnolia spp., about 210 species
Origin
North and South America, the Caribbean, East Asia
Colour
light yellow to cream, sometimes a greenish or brown tinge
Texture
fine to medium, even grain
Weight
relatively light, with good strength and stability
Strength in
workability

Fair is fair: magnolia is not durable and not particularly hard. It has no place outdoors, and on a worktop or floor it dents quickly. It is a wood for indoors, for work where workability is the deciding factor.

Measurable

Appearance and behaviour

Even

Little contrast between earlywood and latewood, so no hard and soft zones that make the knife wander.

Stable

Moves little after proper drying — important for carving that has to stay true to size.

Light but strong

Relatively light wood with a good strength-to-weight ratio.

Takes a finish well

The fine, even structure gives a uniform result when staining and varnishing — no blotchy patches.

Uses

What magnolia is used for

Woodcarving

Its strongest use: it carves cleanly in every direction without tearing out.

Woodturning

Even in density, so the chisel does not run off into a softer zone.

Furniture parts

Drawers, back panels and structural parts that are not visible, or furniture with a crisp white finish.

Model making

Light, stable and true to size.

Why you rarely see it in the shop

Magnolia is mainly planted as an ornamental, flowering tree, not for timber production. Supply is therefore limited and the wood usually comes from tree surgeons' fellings — one tree at a time, not a batch.

Quick answer

Frequently asked questions about magnolia wood

Is magnolia wood hard?

Moderately. It is a hardwood, but not particularly hard — comparable to lime. It is precisely that softness that makes it popular with carvers.

Can magnolia wood be used outdoors?

No. It is not durable and belongs indoors. For outdoors, look at class 1 or 2.

Why does magnolia sometimes have a green tinge?

Because of natural colouring substances in the wood. The greenish tint partly fades on exposure to light, leaving a warmer cream colour.

What is magnolia best used for?

For carving and turning, and for furniture parts with a crisp finish. The even grain takes stain and varnish uniformly.

More in The Wood Guide

Magnolia in perspective

A reference species in our register — the carver's wood.

To The Wood Guide The lime tree Engraving in wood

Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Magnolia kobus — 京浜にけ, CC BY-SA 3.0

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