Laurel wood refers to timber derived from various tree species, often recognized for their aromatic properties or shared common names. These woods come from a diverse group of plants, some not closely related botanically. Despite the shared “laurel” designation, their characteristics, applications, and origins differ considerably. Understanding these distinctions is important for appreciating each type of laurel wood.
The Diverse World of Laurel Woods
The term “laurel wood” encompasses timber from several distinct tree species, often leading to confusion due to common naming. California Laurel (Umbellularia californica) is native to California and southwestern Oregon. Also called Oregon-myrtle or myrtlewood, this tree belongs to the true laurel family (Lauraceae) and can exceed 100 feet in height.
Indian Laurel (Terminalia elliptica or T. tomentosa) is another species distributed across Southern and Southeast Asia, including India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. This tree typically reaches 65 to 100 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 2 to 3 feet. Despite its name, Indian Laurel is not a true laurel, belonging instead to the Combretaceae family.
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis), an aromatic evergreen from the Mediterranean, is also part of the Lauraceae family. While known for its culinary leaves, its wood has applications. Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), native to the Eastern United States from Maine to Florida, is predominantly a shrub but can grow into a small tree up to 40 feet tall. It belongs to the Ericaceae family, highlighting the diverse botanical origins of “laurel” woods.
Key Characteristics and Properties
The physical attributes of laurel woods vary significantly by species.
California Laurel wood is dense and durable. It typically exhibits a fine grain, ranging from yellowish-brown to lighter gray, often displaying attractive mottling, bird’s-eye patterns, and swirling burls. When freshly cut, this wood emits a distinct spicy aroma. Its hardness is comparable to oak, with a dried weight around 40.5 pounds per cubic foot.
Indian Laurel wood ranges from light to dark brown, often with darker, nearly black streaks. The sapwood is a pale pinkish or reddish-white, distinct from the heartwood. Its grain can be straight, slightly interlocked, or irregular, with a medium to coarse uniform texture and low natural luster. Unlike California Laurel, Indian Laurel wood generally has no characteristic odor. It is moderately durable but shows poor resistance to insect infestations. This dense wood has an average dried weight of about 54 pounds per cubic foot and a Janka hardness rating of 2,340 lbf. However, it can be challenging to dry, often prone to checking and warping due to its high shrinkage rate of approximately 15%.
Mountain Laurel wood is dense, hard, and strong, yet can be brittle. It features a close, straight grain with light yellow sapwood and a yellow-brown heartwood that may have red spots. The wood weighs about 44 pounds per cubic foot. When dry, Mountain Laurel becomes very hard and dense, making it difficult to work with tools. Therefore, it is often recommended to work with the wood while it is still green.
Common Uses and Applications
Laurel woods are used in diverse applications, leveraging their unique aesthetic and structural properties.
California Laurel wood is used for cabinetry, fine furniture, wall paneling, and interior trim due to its attractive figure and durability. Carvers utilize its distinctive burls for novelty items, and the timber is also used for crafting tools and musical instruments.
Indian Laurel wood is used for veneers, furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, and turned objects. Its appearance, resembling European walnut, makes it a suitable substitute in some contexts. Indian Laurel is popular in the musical instrument industry, particularly for guitar fretboards, due to its comparable look and feel to traditional tonewoods.
Mountain Laurel, despite its smaller size, is used for crafting small implements and tool handles. Its roots traditionally make spoons, and the wood serves as fuel. Historically, dense burls from Mountain Laurel roots substituted imported briar in smoking pipe bowls. The wood’s strength and unique, often twisted, forms also make it suitable for decorative architectural elements like railings, tables, and headboards. Bay Laurel wood, characterized by its fine grain and resistance to odors and bacteria, is sometimes used for culinary tools like spoons and cutting boards, decorative items, and musical instrument components.
Sourcing and Environmental Considerations
The sourcing of laurel wood varies considerably by species.
California Laurel is primarily found in its native range along the coast and lower elevations of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, extending into southwestern Oregon. Its localized distribution ties availability to these regions.
Indian Laurel is broadly distributed across Southern and Southeast Asia, including India, Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. This widespread presence contributes to its general availability in the timber market. Indian Laurel is not currently listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, regulations in some native countries, such as India, primarily permit its export as veneer rather than lumber.
Mountain Laurel is endemic to Eastern North America, ranging from Maine to Florida and westward into states like Indiana and Louisiana. Its growth as a shrub or small tree limits its commercial timber potential compared to larger species.