Mulberry wood is an unusual and relatively rare commodity in commercial lumber markets, making its value difficult to pin down with a single price. Sourced primarily from the Red or White Mulberry trees, this hardwood is not mass-harvested like oak or maple because the trees are generally small and scattered. This inherent scarcity elevates its status to a specialty or urban salvage wood. The final valuation depends less on a standard market rate and more on the specific characteristics of the piece and its intended application.
Unique Characteristics That Define Mulberry’s Value
The aesthetic appeal of mulberry wood is one of its most valuable traits, driven by a dramatic color transformation. Freshly cut heartwood displays a vibrant, golden-yellow hue, which quickly oxidizes upon exposure to light and air. This distinctive aging process deepens the color into a rich, reddish-brown over time, creating a dynamic appearance highly sought after for decorative items and fine furniture.
Mulberry wood is also valued for its durability and structural qualities. With a Janka hardness rating of approximately 1,680 pound-force, it is denser and harder than common hardwoods like Red Oak. The heartwood possesses natural compounds, specifically tannins, that grant it high resistance to rot, decay, and insect damage. This natural resilience makes it an excellent choice for outdoor applications such as fence posts, though it also turns, glues, and finishes well for indoor projects.
Key Variables Determining the Final Price
The value of a specific mulberry piece is influenced by several factors that determine its usability and stability. Moisture content is a primary determinant: lumber sold as “green” (freshly sawn) is significantly cheaper than air-dried or kiln-dried stock. Kiln-dried mulberry is more expensive because the process prevents the warping, cracking, and internal stresses that can occur during natural drying, resulting in a stable moisture content of six to eight percent.
The size and grade of the lumber also play a role in pricing. Larger, clear-grained boards are the most difficult to source and therefore the most costly. Since mulberry trees rarely grow large enough for wide, long boards, much of the available stock is in the form of live-edge slabs or small turning blanks. The presence of unique visual elements like spalting, burr, or a complex grain figure can substantially increase the price, particularly for small craft pieces. Regional availability also affects cost, as the wood is primarily sold by local, small-scale sawyers rather than large commercial operations.
Market Rates by Application (Lumber, Firewood, and Crafting)
The worth of mulberry wood is best understood by looking at the price points across its various market applications.
Specialty Lumber
As specialty lumber, kiln-dried mulberry is priced competitively with other premium domestic hardwoods. Rough-sawn material often sells for $4.00 to $6.00 per board foot. Large live-edge slabs, often used for furniture tops, can individually command prices in the hundreds of dollars. This reflects the difficulty in obtaining wide, stable sections from this relatively small tree.
Crafting and Fine Woodworking
For crafting, mulberry can fetch the highest price per volume. Small, highly figured pieces sold as turning blanks or carving blocks are priced individually. These range from approximately $20 to over $80 for large or highly figured burr blanks. A single, small turning square of clear mulberry lumber can sell for around $20, reflecting the premium paid for wood with the right dimensions for small, decorative projects.
Firewood
Mulberry also serves as excellent firewood, though it is not widely available in bulk quantities. It is a dense wood that provides a high heat output, measured at approximately 25.8 million British Thermal Units (BTU) per cord. This output rivals high-quality heating woods like Oak and Maple. Its price per cord is often higher than common firewood due to its scarcity and high BTU rating. The main drawback is a high initial moisture content, requiring a long seasoning time of up to a year or more to burn effectively.