Pacific Mahogany
Scientific name: Swietenia humilis
Overview
Pacific Mahogany is a rare mahogany species native to the Pacific coastal regions of Central America and southern Mexico. It is the smallest and least commercially known member of the true mahogany genus (Swietenia), which also includes Honduran Mahogany and Cuban Mahogany.
Despite its smaller size, Pacific Mahogany produces wood that exhibits many of the qualities that have made mahogany one of the world’s most respected furniture and cabinet woods. The lumber is valued for its attractive reddish-brown coloration, dimensional stability, workability, and fine finishing characteristics.
Due to habitat loss and historical overharvesting, Pacific Mahogany is significantly less common than it once was and is rarely encountered in modern commercial lumber markets.
Within the Central American hardwood group, Pacific Mahogany represents one of the region’s most historically important and conservation-sensitive hardwood species.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Pacific Mahogany
- Scientific Name: Swietenia humilis
- Region: Central American Hardwoods
- Tree Size: 20–50 ft tall, 1–2 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 37 lbs/ft³ (590 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 800 lbf
- Color: Pale reddish brown to medium reddish brown
- Grain: Straight to interlocked
- Texture: Medium
Identification Characteristics
Pacific Mahogany is characterized by its warm reddish-brown heartwood and relatively uniform appearance. Freshly cut wood often displays lighter reddish tones that deepen with age and exposure.
The grain is typically straight, although interlocked grain may occur and produce attractive ribbon figure on quarter-sawn surfaces. The wood possesses a moderate natural luster and finishes exceptionally well.
Key identification traits include:
- Pale reddish-brown to medium reddish-brown coloration
- Straight to occasionally interlocked grain
- Medium texture
- Moderate natural luster
- Excellent finishing characteristics
- Good dimensional stability
- Ribbon figure on quarter-sawn surfaces
- Uniform appearance
- Moderate density
Working Properties
Pacific Mahogany is widely regarded as an excellent woodworking species due to its balance of stability, appearance, and ease of machining.
- Machines easily
- Turns well
- Carves exceptionally well
- Excellent gluing properties
- Accepts stains and finishes readily
- Sands smoothly
- Good dimensional stability
- Low movement in service
- Produces high-quality finished surfaces
Safety Note
Wood dust from Pacific Mahogany may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals. Appropriate dust collection and respiratory protection are recommended during woodworking operations
Common Uses
Pacific Mahogany common uses include:
- Fine furniture
- Cabinetry
- Architectural millwork
- Interior trim
- Wood carvings
- Boat interiors
- Decorative veneers
- Musical instruments
- Turned objects
- Collector wood samples
- High-end woodworking projects
Sustainability & Notes
Pacific Mahogany is native to the dry tropical forests of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Unlike Honduran Mahogany, which can grow into large forest trees, Swietenia humilis typically remains smaller and occurs in more localized populations.
The species has experienced significant population declines due to habitat conversion, agricultural expansion, and historical timber harvesting. As a result, conservation and sustainable management efforts are important throughout its native range.
Pacific Mahogany is included under international mahogany trade regulations and remains a species of considerable conservation interest.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Honduran Mahogany – The most commercially important true mahogany species and a benchmark for fine furniture woods.
Verawood – A much denser Central American hardwood prized for its durability, natural oils, and distinctive coloration.
Mexican Purpleheart – A colorful tropical hardwood known for its striking purple heartwood and excellent durability.
Related Guides
Mahogany Species Guide – Explore the major mahogany species and compare their appearance, properties, and woodworking characteristics.
Best Woods for Furniture Making – Discover why mahogany species have long been considered among the finest furniture woods in the world.
African Mahogany vs. Genuine Mahogany – Compare African Mahogany and Genuine Mahogany, including color, grain, workability, stability, durability, availability, and how each species performs in furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, and fine woodworking.
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
Pacific Mahogany is highly desirable among collectors because it represents one of the least commonly encountered members of the true mahogany genus. Well-prepared specimens display the attractive reddish coloration, stability, and fine texture that have made mahogany woods legendary among craftsmen.
Collectors particularly value the species for its rarity, conservation significance, and relationship to the better-known Honduran and Cuban mahoganies.
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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.
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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.
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