East Indian Walnut
Scientific name: Albizia lebbeck
Overview
East Indian Walnut is a medium to large tropical hardwood tree in the Fabaceae family, native to South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia and widely introduced throughout tropical and subtropical regions. Albizia lebbeck is a member of the same genus as Red Siris and White Siris and is also commonly known by names such as Lebbeck and Woman’s Tongue Tree.
Despite the common name East Indian Walnut, the species is not a true walnut and does not belong to the Juglans genus. Its heartwood generally ranges from golden brown and medium brown to darker reddish brown, often contrasting noticeably with pale sapwood. The wood can display attractive grain and is used regionally for furniture, cabinetry, interior joinery, turning, carving, construction, and other general woodworking applications.
East Indian Walnut is particularly useful within the Exotic Woods of the World collection because it demonstrates how commercial and regional wood names can suggest relationships between botanically unrelated species. Its attractive appearance and membership in the diverse Albizia genus also make it an excellent species for comparative collections.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: East Indian Walnut
- Alternate Common Name(s): Lebbeck, Lebbek, Woman’s Tongue Tree
- Scientific Name: Albizia lebbeck
- Region: Asian Hardwoods
- Tree Size: Approximately 50–80 ft (15–24 m) tall, occasionally larger
- Average Dried Weight: Approximately 40–45 lbs/ft³ (640–720 kg/m³), with variation according to growing conditions
- Janka Hardness: Reliable standardized species-specific value is not consistently documented
- Grain: Straight to interlocked
- Texture: Medium to coarse
Identification Characteristics
East Indian Walnut generally produces golden-brown to medium or reddish-brown heartwood. Mature material may develop deeper brown coloration with age and exposure, while the sapwood is typically considerably lighter.
Grain can be straight but is frequently interlocked or irregular. Quarter-sawn surfaces may therefore display ribbon-like figure. Texture is generally medium to coarse, and properly surfaced material can develop an attractive natural luster.
Key identification traits include:
- Golden-brown to reddish-brown heartwood
- Pale yellowish or cream-colored sapwood
- Noticeable heartwood and sapwood contrast
- Straight to interlocked grain
- Medium to coarse texture
- Potential ribbon-like figure
- Moderate natural luster
Working Properties
East Indian Walnut generally offers useful woodworking characteristics and can be worked with conventional hand and machine tools. Straight-grained material tends to machine more predictably, while interlocked grain can produce tear-out during planing and surfacing.
Sharp cutting edges and lighter passes are beneficial when working figured or reversing grain. The wood can be carved, turned, sanded, and finished attractively, making it suitable for both functional and decorative woodworking.
- Machines reasonably well with sharp tools
- Turns well
- Suitable for carving
- Sands to a smooth surface
- Accepts finishes well
- Interlocked grain may produce tear-out
- Pre-drilling is advisable near edges and ends
Safety Note
Detailed species-specific information regarding reactions to East Indian Walnut wood dust is limited. As with other tropical hardwoods, dust generated during cutting, routing, turning, and sanding may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals.
Appropriate dust collection, eye protection, and respiratory protection are recommended when machining the wood.
Common Uses
Its attractive brown coloration, useful strength, moderate density, and general workability allow East Indian Walnut to be used for numerous woodworking applications, including:
- Furniture
- Cabinetry
- Interior joinery
- Carving
- Wood turning
- General carpentry
- Construction
- Decorative woodworking
- Agricultural implements
- Wood collections
Sustainability & Notes
East Indian Walnut is a fast-growing multipurpose tree that has been planted extensively outside portions of its original Asian range. In addition to timber production, Albizia lebbeck has been used for shade, agroforestry, erosion control, fuelwood, and land-management purposes.
Its adaptability has contributed to its establishment in numerous tropical and subtropical regions. Because introduced populations can behave differently from those within the species’ native range, geographic origin should be documented when evaluating sustainability and provenance.
The name East Indian Walnut can also cause identification problems. Although the darker heartwood may invite comparisons with walnut, Albizia lebbeck belongs to the Fabaceae rather than the walnut family, Juglandaceae.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Red Siris – Another Asian Albizia producing attractive reddish-brown heartwood and providing an excellent comparison of coloration, grain, and density within the genus.
White Siris – A related Albizia generally characterized by lighter-colored wood, making it useful for demonstrating the range of appearances found among siris timbers.
Black Walnut – A true walnut belonging to the Juglans genus. Comparing it with East Indian Walnut demonstrates why common trade names should not be interpreted as evidence of botanical relationship.
Related Guides
Albizia Species Guide
Explore the Albizia genus and compare East Indian Walnut with Red Siris, White Siris, and other Albizia species based on appearance, distribution, wood characteristics, and uses.
Sapwood vs. Heartwood Explained
Learn why sapwood and heartwood can differ significantly in color, durability, extractive content, and appearance, particularly in species with strongly contrasting zones.
Understanding Interlocked vs. Straight Grain
Explore how grain orientation influences figure, machining behavior, surface quality, and the appearance of finished hardwood.
Preventing Tear-Out in Interlocked Grain
Learn techniques for obtaining cleaner surfaces when planing and machining hardwoods with interlocked or reversing grain.
Best Woods for Furniture Making
Compare furniture woods based on appearance, workability, stability, strength, durability, and finishing characteristics.
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
East Indian Walnut is particularly valuable in a documented collection when displayed alongside Red Siris and White Siris. Together, these species demonstrate the variation in coloration, grain, density, and appearance found within the Albizia genus.
The species also provides an excellent educational comparison with true walnuts. Placing East Indian Walnut beside Black Walnut or another Juglans species demonstrates how common and commercial wood names can imply relationships that do not exist botanically.
Collector specimens should retain the scientific name Albizia lebbeck, geographic origin, and acquisition information whenever possible because the species has been introduced throughout numerous tropical regions.
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Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
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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
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