Yellowwood
Podocarpus latifolius
• Also known as |
Umkhomba|Umsonti
Quick Look
Yellowwood is an even-grained, lightweight South African wood that has been used historically for hundreds of years, and a variety of purposes. It was extensively used in railway sleepers, as well as in multiple phases of construction. Its tough, durable nature saw it used as an exterior wood in the region. (It is still very popular throughout Southern Africa for indoor carpentry and floors, as it is also dimensionally stable.) The heartwood is pale yellowish brown, and not easy to distinguish from the sapwood; reddish streaks are sometimes present (in the heart). Grains are typically straight, though occasionally wavy; its texture is fine and consistent, with a nice natural luster.
Not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is classified as a species of “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Why We Love This Wood
The Podocarpus Latifolius tree is a slow-growing evergreen tree. It thrives in a moist forest environment, where it will reach maturity at approx. 100 feet. Conversely, trees grown in isolated, drier areas, tend to have their growth severely stunted.
Yellowwood is a wood of cultural significance across Southern Africa; it is the national tree of South Africa. It was used extensively for the floors and ceilings in numerous older houses throughout South Africa. Its huge popularity and wide range of uses / applications has led it to become overharvested over portions of its natural habitat (on the verge of extinction in some areas); all species of the Podocarpus genus are protected from harvesting in South Africa.
Quick Look
No items found
Vital Statistics
Main Color Group | Yellow / White |
Grain Pattern | Even |
Avg Dry Weight - LB/FT3 | 30 |
Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3 | 485 |
Janka Hardness - LBF | 1355 |
Janka Hardness - N | 6030 |
A Popular Choice in
yellowwood
Search With Filters
Other Species
Chestnut - European
Durable and relatively affordable, European Chestnut is a popular cladding species in Europe. With looks similar to Oak and Ash, we are sure you will love the appearance of Sweet Chestnut. Grain can be interlocked, but Chestnut is still relatively easy to work. It can split relatively easily, so pre-drilling is essential.
This is a new species for us here at Rare Woods and a first for South Africa. We are delighted with what arrived and can’t wait to get it into some of your projects.
Detail
Common Uses
chestnut-european
Birch Plywood
Available in a range of thicknesses and grades, Birch Plywood is a wonderful, high-end board product used in the production of cabinets, furniture and more. With a consistent layer thicknesses, a thick veneer face and all voids patched, Birch Plywood is visually appealing on face grain and end grain, structurally sound and stable in use (indoor application only).
Our Birch Plywood comes from Eastern Europe and we stock both S/BB and BB/BB grades with thicknesses ranging from 6.5mm to 21mm in standard sheet dimensions of 2.45mx1.22m
Grade Summary:
S/BB: Better face clear – may have occasional patch. Second face is BB grade.
BB/BB: both faces are grade BB. Can be up to 29 patches, a side, but typically 3-6 patches a side.
Common Uses:
boxes, cabinetry, carpentry, construction
boxes, cabinetry, carpentry, construction
Detail
Common Uses
birch-plywood
Longhi
Longhi is an African wood with similar working properties to its more well-known cousin, Anegre. Its color varies from a greyish-white to beige to pinkish-brown color, which slightly darkens with age and UV-ray exposure. Its generally light appearance makes sapwood difficult to distinguish. Its grains are typical straight (though occasionally interlocked) and its texture ranges between fine and medium-fine. It can sometimes possess mottled or subtle tiger-striped figuring.
The wood must be carefully dried, as it is susceptible to fungus. It is considered to be moderately durable, and moderately stable. Longhi has a solid strength-to-weight ratio, which makes it a popular choice for flooring and decking.
Common Uses:
cabinetry, decking, flooring, furniture
cabinetry, decking, flooring, furniture
Detail
Common Uses
longhi
Birch - Flame Roasted
“Roasting” Flame Birch involves gradually heating the wood up to temperatures of greater than 160 degrees celcius in special heat chambers made of stainless steel under anoxic conditions. The heat removes organic compounds from the wood cells, changing both the physical and chemical make-up of the wood. The process is natural and chemical free. It darkens the wood to a beautiful rich chocolatey brown color whilst still showing the gorgeous grain and figure of the underlying wood.
The thermally modified wood is more dimensionally stable, but the process does reduce bending strength and make the wood a little more brittle. This makes it chip a little easier than the un-modified lumber. The brittleness makes it less suitable for intricate cabinetry, but it is still an excellent choice for less intricate items such as floors, tops, panels, cladding etc.
Extra care needs to be taken when finishing thermally modified wood, as the “bone dry” wood has a tendency to “suck in” much of what is given to it. Our in-house woodworking specialist has had excellent results with Osmo PolyX. He suggests a thicker finish will work better.
Common Uses:
flooring, interior panelling
flooring, interior panelling
Detail
Common Uses
birch-flame-roasted
Melunak
This Malaysian species is a medium weight timber suitable for light structural purposes. It is a popular joinery timber and it machines easily and finishes well.
Common Uses:
furniture, joinery
furniture, joinery
Detail
Common Uses
melunak
Anegre
Indigenous to the tropical regions of East Africa and West Africa, as far south as Angola.¬† Anegre has been used primarily as an interior wood; it is decidedly non-durable, and thus not recommended for outdoor applications. The wood’s aesthetics can vary greatly, as Anegre is comprised of three separate species within the Pouteria genus. Its colors can range from pale yellowish to orangish-brown wood, to a pale pinkish-brown, sometimes with additional highlight coloration. Anegre typically darkens to a golden-to reddish brown over time, with repeated UV ray exposure. The heartwood and sapwood of Anegre are usually not distinguishable from each other.
Anegre has a medium texture with closed pores similar to Maple.  The species is easy to work with both hand and power tools.
Examples can be quite beautiful — and sometimes stunning, with curly and mottled figuring being not uncommon. Its hues tend to be generally pastel in nature, so it makes a very complimentary, aesthetically unimposing wood for a variety of interior applications. Grains are typically straight but can occasionally be interlocked. Its texture is medium and it has a nice natural luster.
Common Uses:
boatbuilding, cabinetry, carpentry, construction, veneer
boatbuilding, cabinetry, carpentry, construction, veneer
Detail
Common Uses
anegre