Laburnum
Scientific name: Laburnum anagyroides
Overview
Laburnum is a small European hardwood known for its striking color contrast between dark brown heartwood and bright yellow sapwood. This contrast often gives the wood a dramatic appearance similar to exotic hardwoods.
Because the trees are usually small, the wood is typically available in narrow boards or turning blanks rather than large lumber. Laburnum is valued by woodturners and carvers for its beauty, fine texture, and ability to take a smooth finish.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Laburnum
- Scientific Name: Laburnum anagyroides
- Region: European Hardwoods (Central & Southern Europe)
- Tree Size: 20–40 ft tall, 8–16 in trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 47 lbs/ft³ (760 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 1,730 lbf
- Color: Golden brown sapwood with dark chocolate brown heartwood
- Grain: Straight to slightly irregular
- Texture: Fine and smooth
Identification Characteristics
Laburnum is easily recognized by its dramatic contrast between dark brown heartwood and pale yellow sapwood. The grain is generally straight but may become irregular around knots. The wood has a fine texture and natural luster that becomes more pronounced when finished.
Key identification traits include:
- Dark brown to olive heartwood
- Bright yellow sapwood often clearly defined
- Fine and smooth texture
- Typically found in narrow boards or blanks
- Attractive natural luster
Working Properties
Laburnum works well with hand and machine tools and responds especially well to turning and carving. The wood cuts cleanly and can produce a very smooth surface when finished. Because of its density, sharp tools are recommended to avoid tear-out in areas where the grain becomes irregular.
- Machines and carves cleanly with sharp tools
- Excellent for woodturning projects
- May show tear-out around knots or irregular grain
- Glues and finishes well
- Polishes to a smooth surface
Safety Note
Dust from Laburnum wood may cause irritation in some individuals. Standard dust collection and protective equipment are recommended when machining or sanding.
Common Uses
Laburnum is primarily used for decorative woodworking and specialty items.
- Woodturning projects
- Decorative carvings
- Small furniture accents
- Tool handles
- Musical instruments
Sustainability & Notes
Laburnum trees are generally small and are often planted as ornamental trees. Because of this, lumber is usually available only in small quantities and narrow pieces. The wood is most commonly obtained from pruned or removed ornamental trees.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
European Pear – A fine-grained fruitwood used for carving and instruments.
Service Tree – Another dense European hardwood used for turning and specialty tools.
European Boxwood – Much denser and lighter in color with extremely fine grain.
Related Guides
How to Identify Exotic Hardwood by Grain Pattern
Laburnum’s color contrast between heartwood and sapwood makes it easy to recognize.
Working With Dense Hardwoods
Dense woods require sharp tools and careful machining to achieve clean results.
How to Store Exotic Wood Samples
Proper storage helps preserve small boards and turning blanks.
Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
Laburnum is a particularly attractive species for wood collectors because of its dramatic color contrast. Many samples show both the dark heartwood and yellow sapwood, which creates visually striking pieces even in small blocks.
Due to the small size of the trees, collector samples are usually narrow boards or turning blanks. Pieces that show strong heartwood and sapwood contrast are especially desirable for display collections.
Share Your Photos of This Species
Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?
Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.
When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.
Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
Love This Species?
Enjoy learning about this wood species?
Help support the continued growth of Exotic Woods of the World by participating in our Adopt a Species program. Your support helps fund species research, educational content, photography, videos, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Support Forest Conservation
This species is part of the growing Exotic Woods of the World reference archive, dedicated to documenting and preserving knowledge of the world’s wood species.
Through the Adopt a Species program, visitors can help support ongoing species research, educational content, photography, video production, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Contributions help fund the continued expansion of this archive while promoting sustainable forestry education and the long-term appreciation of the world’s forests.
Interested in supporting this species? Visit our Adopt a Species and Conservation Partners pages to learn more.
Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Related Tools & Products:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Share This Wood Species
Stay Connected
Follow the latest species additions, educational resources, videos, conservation initiatives, and major project milestones through our Site Updates archive.
The Site Updates archive provides a permanent record of new content, library growth, and future developments across Exotic Woods of the World.