Pacific Maple

Color/Appearance: Can range in color from a pale brown to a darker reddish brown. Frequently color is linked to density—heavier pieces tend to be darker in color. Overall appearance resembles mahogany.

Grain/Texture: Grain is usually interlocked, and quartersawn surfaces can exhibit a ribbon-stripe grain pattern. Has a fine, even texture and moderate natural luster.

Rot Resistance: Varies depending on  particular Aglaia species and growing conditions of the tree, but is generally considered as moderately durable—though susceptible to powder post beetles.

Workability: Easy to work with hand and machine tools. Turns, glues, stains, and finishes well. Has a tendency to warp or deform during initial drying, although dimensional stability is good once dry.

Odor: Has a pleasant, lingering odor that’s been compared to both cedar and camphor (Cinnamomum camphora).

Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, wood in the Aglaia genus has been reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Not commonly exported, availability is most likely limited to locally harvested trees within its natural range. Expect prices to be in the mid range for a domestic hardwood.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is reported by the IUCN as being data deficient. It was formerly (1998) classified as being near threatened, but was later (2008) reclassified as being data deficient due to lack of information on its habitat, distribution, and population status.

Common Uses: Interior construction,  furniture, cabinetry, veneer, boatbuilding, gunstocks, tool handles and other turned objects.

Comments: Despite its common name, Pacific maple is not related to the true maples in the Acer genus. It’s unclear how the common name came about, as the resemblance to maple isn’t apparent in either the tree or the wood. However, Pacific maple is simply an international trade name, and it’s more commonly mixed with other Aglaia lumber species and simply called by a more generic name varying depending on the country of origin. Examples include: aglaia, amoora, bekak, and tasua.

Being in the Meliaceae (mahogany) family, Pacific maple can be thought of as almost a cross between two more well-known Meliaceae spceies: Honduran mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata). Visually, it resembles genuine mahgany (though perhaps lacking a bit of its color contrasts), but it also has a lingering scent that’s been compared to cedar