Southern magnolia

Overview

Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is the hardest and heaviest of the three main magnolia species commercially harvested in the United States, per the Wood Database. Its wide, creamy sapwood and narrow brown heartwood (sometimes streaked green, purple or black) give an uneven look. It is a low-cost utility wood in the Southeast.

Pros

• Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools; it turns, glues, stains and finishes well.
• Wide, pale sapwood that can be painted or stained to even out colour.
• Moderate density (about 560 kg/m3 dried) and 1,020 lbf Janka hardness.
• Low price for a domestic hardwood and readily available in its natural range.
• Low T/R shrinkage ratio of 1.2 (5.4% radial, 6.6% tangential): relatively even movement.

Cons

• Non-durable to perishable for decay resistance, and susceptible to insect attack.
• Difficult to find outside the Southeast.
• Streaks in the heartwood and a very wide sapwood make colour uneven.
• Species in the Magnolia genus have been reported to cause asthma-like symptoms and runny nose.
• Mostly sold as utility lumber, so grading may be limited.

Variants and subspecies

• Southern magnolia is the species covered here.
• Other magnolias: the Wood Database describes southern magnolia as the hardest of the three main commercial magnolias; the others are not covered here.
• Relative: Yellow poplar is also in the magnolia family but is a different wood.

Working and finishing

The Wood Database says southern magnolia is generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools and turns, glues, stains and finishes well. Plan for the contrasting sapwood and the occasional dark streak when laying out parts.

Staining and finishing colour

Very wide sapwood is creamy white to greyish, with narrow heartwood medium to dark brown, sometimes with green, purple or black streaks. The Wood Database says it stains well. Test stain or paint on offcuts to see how it evens out the sapwood and heartwood contrast.

Sustainability and handling

The Wood Database reports southern magnolia as not listed in the CITES Appendices (checked 2026-09-30) or on the IUCN Red List; Wikipedia's page gives Least Concern (2014). US-grown timber is still covered by the Lacey Act, which as amended in 2008 prohibits trade in plants and timber taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of law (Wikipedia's summary of the Act); buy from dealers who can name the source. The Wood Database says that, although severe reactions are quite uncommon, species in the Magnolia genus have been reported to cause asthma-like symptoms and runny nose. The Wood Database's wood-dust article treats wood dust in general as an irritant or sensitizer and notes that fine dust can cause cumulative lung damage, so extract at the source and wear a respirator when sanding or machining.

Popular projects

Upholstered furniture frames, interior trim, veneer, plywood and general utility work, per the Wood Database.

Buying notes

Readily available within its natural range in the Southeast but hard to find elsewhere. No retail list price was found; the Wood Database says prices should be low for a domestic hardwood. Check the balance of heartwood and sapwood when choosing boards.