What Wood is similar to mahogany?
Similar to mahogany: Sometimes referred to as Indian Mahogany, this wood is known to woodworkers in North America as Australian Red Cedar. It was once placed in the Cedrela genus alongside Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata) , and the two are very similar in most respects.
What are some uses of mahogany wood?
- Color Difference: Mahogany wood comes in pink color resulting in large color difference. ...
- Production: Mahogany is a high-quality wood that makes it most suited for furniture construction. ...
- Price: The price of mahogany wood is relatively high because the production rate of the mahogany tree is quite low as per its demand.
What are the different types of mahogany furniture?
Types of Wood Grain Patterns
- Red Oak. The Red Oak is found in the Eastern part of the US. ...
- White Oak. White Oak has a color that is light to medium brown with an olive cast. ...
- Sycamore. Sycamore wood comes in a light tan to white color, but sometimes can be a darker color that is closer to reddish-brown.
- Mahogany. ...
- Zebrano. ...
- Brazilian Rosewood. ...
- Makore. ...
- Teak. ...
- African Padauk. ...
- Ebony. ...
What kind of tree is Mahogany made out of?
Types of Mahogany Wood
- Honduras Mahogany. Found primarily in Central America and Mexico, the Honduras mahogany ( Swietenia humilis) is a very popular mahogany species that has a very vibrant color and grain pattern.
- Cuban Mahogany. ...
- Big-Leaf Mahogany. ...
Are there different types of mahogany wood?
It's sold under a variety of common names, including American Mahogany, Genuine Mahogany, Big-Leaf Mahogany, and Brazilian Mahogany. Despite the abundance of common names, they usually all refer to just one species—when in doubt, verify the scientific name: Swietenia macrophylla.
Which mahogany tree is best?
African mahogany is popular due to better yield production. The price of African mahogany tree is around Rs 15,000 - 20,000 this is the price of 10 year old mahogany tree.
How can you tell genuine mahogany?
Check the corners of wood to spot a veneer. Genuine mahogany end grain will have marginal parenchyma, or rows of light brown cells at the border of every growth ring you can see in the end grain. The presence of these is a strong suggestion of Swietenia species, which is the species of tree mahogany comes from.
What wood is most like mahogany?
Khaya is a gorgeous wood, and a good substitute for American mahogany.
How many shades of mahogany are there?
14 Types of Mahogany Color.
Why is mahogany illegal?
Following the path of ivory, in 2003, mahogany was listed on the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as a species in need of strict regulation to prevent its extinction. Because Peruvian mahogany is traded in violation of CITES, it is illegal to trade or possess it under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Is Philippine mahogany real mahogany?
For many years the Meranti wood species has been known as “Philippine Mahogany.” Philippine Mahogany is a term that generally applies to a number of wood species native to southeast Asia. Confusingly, Philippine Mahogany is not actually a type of Mahogany at all.
Is African mahogany real mahogany?
African Mahogany, Khaya spp Today this is the most widely used wood called “mahogany”. It is not related to South American Mahogany but has a similar look and even though it is more brittle it has acceptable working properties.
What is tropical mahogany?
Mahogany is known for its meaty midrange character, featuring a strong fundamental focus often described as “punchy,” “woody,” or “dry,” because it doesn't produce a lot of ringing overtones. Mahogany's earthy voice has been featured on many roots music recordings over the years. Tropical Mahogany.
Is teak a type of mahogany?
Mahogany is a tropical wood with a dark red-brown colour that is native to South America, Africa, and Central America. Teak is a close-grained hardwood that ranges in colour from yellow to dark brown. Indonesia, India, and Central America are home to this species.
Is mahogany more expensive than oak?
The typical concern is mostly aesthetics and cost. Oak is less expensive than mahogany.
Where does the best mahogany come from?
Genuine Mahogany Lumber DataScientific NameSwietenia MacrophyllaRankSpeciesKingdomPLantaeRegion of OriginCentral America, North America, South AmericaCITES AppendixYes45 more rows
1- Cuban Mahogany
Historically this is what people talked about when they discussed Mahogany.
2- Honduran Mahogany
Honduran Mohagany is what’s left of genuine Mohagany, now that Cuban Mahogany is not available.
3- African Mahogany
African Mahogany refers to a number of different trees, all from Africa. It’s the most widely available substitute for genuine Mahogany.
4- Mountain Mahogany
Mountain Mahogany is a highly dense wood that is not often available for commercial sale, at least in bulk.
6- Swamp Mahogany
Swamp Mahogany is a tree from Australia though it’s now being grown worldwide, especially in warmer climates.
Where did mahogany trees come from?
Originally, the wood of this tree was exported from Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia to the U.S. However, during the past decade, restrictions in logging mahogany trees in Brazil and Bolivia has led to immense pressure on the Peruvian mahogany forests. Over half the mahoganies in Peru have now disappeared. African Mahogany.
Where is mahogany native to?
Also known as the Khaya mahogany ( Khaya ivorensis ), this mahogany species is native to the rainforest regions of Africa, majority of which is found in Ghana and Cameroon. Although known by most people as a true mahogany, it is a distant cousin to its American counterparts.
What is mahogany used for?
Mahogany is one of the most popular varieties of hardwood, used in creating furniture, musical instruments, boats, and other items. In this DecorDezine article, we will look at the types of mahogany wood that are derived from various species of trees, and find out what differentiates one from the other. Mahogany is one of the most popular varieties ...
What is a mahogany tree known for?
This tree is known for is unique patterns which show the rays of the trees, apart from the annual rings. However, these trees have a coarse, interlocking grain pattern that looks and feels heavier than American mahoganies. Therefore, these trees are not as commercially valuable.
What is the name of the tree that looks like mahogany?
These trees provide lumber that look and feel similar to mahogany, and they are often named as such. Let us discuss a few of these species below. Spanish Cedar. This tree is a softwood variety that appears similar to mahogany. Its reddish brown wood may have streaks of gum in the grain.
Where is Honduras mahogany found?
Found primarily in Central America and Mexico, the Honduras mahogany ( Swietenia humilis) is a very popular mahogany species that has a very vibrant color and grain pattern. This makes it a very good choice for creating furniture and wood carvings. The wood also has a high dimensional stability and quality of resonance.
Where is mahogany found today?
Today, only a small number of trees exist near Florida and parts of Central America, and trees of commercial sizes are exceedingly rare. Big-Leaf Mahogany.
Where does African mahogany come from?
African Mahogany. African Mahogany ( Khaya ivorensis) occurs naturally in West Africa, primarily Ghana and Cameroon. Wood from this region is consistent in grade, color, and texture, and carries a very lustrous grain appearance.
What is genuine mahogany used for?
Because of the characteristics of Genuine Mahogany, the wood is used extensively in furniture making, high end door and window manufacturing, wood turning, and musical instrument production.
Is mahogany a hardwood?
Mahogany: Its Variations & Its Alternatives. There are many different tree species and hardwoods commonly referred to as “mahogany.”. Commercially available alternative species have gained in popularity over the last several years, although Genuine Mahogany remains the most sought-after of the “mahogany” lumbers.

Advantages of Mahogany
Types of Mahogany Wood
- In this post, we classify mahogany wood typesinto three broad categories, the inner circle, the outer circle, and the periphery. A fourth category includes woods that resemble but are NOT mahogany, which you can still use, but not as mahogany.
The Inner Circle – Swietenia
- You will find all the characteristics described above in the Swieteniagenus, and you can consider all the species that fall under this head as genuine mahogany. There are three primary species:
Identification of Swietenia
- The secret to accurate identification of genuine mahogany lies in the proper and positive identification of Swietenia. You would find it hard to distinguish one Swietenia species from another. However, you can distinguish it from other species by following a few specific guidelines: 1. Magnified scanning of the end grain to positively identify marginal parenchymais absent in ot…
The Outer Circle
- To many woodworkers, African mahogany of the Khaya genus is not genuine mahogany. Many others, however, are ready to accept it as a form of mahogany. So, the controversy continues, but we have placed the species of the Khayagenus within the outer circle.
The Periphery
- Mahogany members of the periphery group are those wood species that neither belongs to Swietenia nor Khaya genus, but to the Meliaceae family. Nevertheless, they exhibit similar characteristics to mahogany.
The Outsiders
- A few wood species bear a superficial resemblance to mahogany – enough to earn its name. That said, many woodworkers would not be ready to deal with these so-called types of mahogany. If you are looking for genuine mahogany or at least a slight variation, these wood species should be the last on your list.