Black Palm
Scientific name: Borassus flabellifer
Overview
Black Palm is a highly distinctive palm wood species native to South and Southeast Asia, particularly India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Unlike traditional hardwood trees, Black Palm develops a dense fibrous structure made up of dark vascular bundles surrounded by lighter material, creating a dramatic speckled appearance. The wood is valued primarily for decorative woodworking, turning, knife scales, and specialty craft applications where its unusual texture and contrast stand out.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Black Palm, Palmyra Palm
- Scientific Name: Borassus flabellifer
- Region: Asian Hardwoods
- Tree Size: 60–100 ft tall, 1–3 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 55 lbs/ft³ (880 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 2,020 lbf
- Color: Dark brown to black with lighter streaking
- Grain: Fibrous and irregular
- Texture: Coarse
Identification Characteristics
Black Palm is immediately recognizable because of its highly fibrous vascular structure. Rather than displaying traditional grain lines or growth rings, the material contains dense dark fibers embedded within lighter tissue, creating a spotted or streaked appearance throughout the wood.
Key identification traits include:
- Dark brown to black coloration
- Speckled vascular bundle pattern
- Fibrous internal structure
- Coarse texture with strong contrast
Working Properties
Black Palm can be difficult to machine because of its uneven density and fibrous structure. Carbide tooling and sharp cutting edges are recommended to minimize tearout and splintering. Stabilized pieces often produce the best finishing results.
- Fibrous structure can splinter during cutting
- Sharp tools required for clean machining
- Polishes well with proper finishing
- Best suited for decorative woodworking
Safety Note
Palm dust may cause skin or respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals. Proper dust collection and respiratory protection are recommended during machining and sanding.
Common Uses
Black Palm is commonly used in decorative woodworking projects where visual texture and contrast are desired.
- Knife handles
- Turned bowls
- Walking sticks
- Decorative accents
- Cue butts
- Specialty craft projects
Sustainability & Notes
Black Palm is often harvested from older palms that are no longer productive for agricultural purposes. Commercial lumber availability is generally limited compared to traditional hardwood species.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Red Palm – A lighter reddish palm species with decorative fibrous structure.
Coconut Palm – Another tropical palm material used in specialty woodworking and decorative applications.
Black and White Ebony – A visually dramatic exotic species prized for contrasting coloration and collector appeal.
Related Guides
Best Woods for Knife Handles – Discover the best hardwoods for custom knife handles based on density, stability, durability, appearance, moisture resistance, and long-term performance.
Understanding Wood Strength: What Makes Wood Strong? – Explains how density and structure affect woodworking performance.
Wood Movement and Seasonal Expansion Explained – Covers how specialty woods and fibrous materials react to environmental changes.
Wenge vs. Ebony
Explore Wenge vs. Ebony to compare dark exotic hardwoods in color, density, hardness, workability, and high-end woodworking applications.
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
Black Palm is highly recognizable and popular among collectors because of its unusual appearance and texture. Well-figured pieces with dense dark vascular patterns are especially desirable for knife scales, turning blanks, and display samples.
Video Overview
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.
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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:
• SKIL 5-Inch Random Orbital Sander with Cyclonic Dust Box for smooth surface preparation and finish sanding
https://amzn.to/4uZgf2l
• The Complete Manual of Woodworking for detailed guidance on woodworking design, techniques, and tools
https://amzn.to/4uX3nd5
• 10-Inch 120-Tooth Fine-Finish Woodworking Saw Blade for clean, precise cuts in hardwoods and finish materials
https://amzn.to/4fpeSVU
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