Kalkora Silk Tree
Scientific name: Albizia kalkora
Overview
Kalkora Silk Tree is a deciduous hardwood tree in the Fabaceae family, native to parts of eastern and southern Asia. Albizia kalkora occurs in regions that include China and neighboring areas of East and Southeast Asia, where it grows in forests, wooded slopes, and other suitable warm-temperate to subtropical environments.
The wood generally ranges from pale yellowish brown to medium brown, with mature heartwood potentially developing warmer reddish or darker brown tones. Sapwood is typically lighter and may contrast noticeably with the heartwood. Grain is generally straight to interlocked, while texture ranges from medium to somewhat coarse.
Kalkora Silk Tree is not a major internationally traded timber, and detailed standardized wood-property information is limited. Where available, its wood may be used for furniture, interior woodworking, carving, turning, utility items, and other local applications. The species is especially valuable to collectors as another representative of the diverse Albizia group.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Kalkora Silk Tree
- Alternate Common Name(s): Kalkora Albizia
- Scientific Name: Albizia kalkora
- Region: Asian Hardwoods
- Tree Size: Approximately 30–60 ft (9–18 m) tall, occasionally larger
- Average Dried Weight: Reliable species-specific value not widely documented
- Janka Hardness: Reliable standardized species-specific value not widely documented
- Grain: Straight to interlocked
- Texture: Medium to coarse
Identification Characteristics
Kalkora Silk Tree generally produces pale yellowish-brown to medium-brown wood. Mature heartwood may develop warmer brown or reddish-brown coloration, while sapwood typically remains considerably lighter.
Grain may be straight or interlocked, with irregular grain occurring around branches and other areas of changing growth. Interlocked material can potentially produce subtle ribbon-like figure when quarter-sawn.
Key identification traits include:
- Pale yellowish-brown to medium-brown heartwood
- Lighter cream to pale yellowish sapwood
- Moderate sapwood and heartwood contrast
- Straight to interlocked grain
- Medium to coarse texture
- Occasional ribbon-like figure
- Moderate natural luster
Working Properties
Detailed machining information specifically for Kalkora Silk Tree is limited because the species is not widely traded as an international commercial timber.
Its general wood characteristics suggest that sound material can be worked with conventional woodworking equipment. Interlocked grain requires additional care because reversing fibers can produce tear-out during planing and surfacing.
- Machines reasonably with sharp tools
- Suitable for carving
- Suitable for wood turning
- Sands to a smooth surface
- Can produce attractive finished surfaces
- Interlocked grain may cause tear-out
- Sharp cutting edges improve machining quality
Safety Note
Detailed toxicity and allergy information specifically associated with Albizia kalkora wood dust is limited. Dust from any wood can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system, and individual sensitivity can vary.
Appropriate dust collection, eye protection, and respiratory protection are recommended during cutting, routing, turning, and sanding.
Common Uses
Kalkora Silk Tree is primarily a regional rather than internationally important timber. When suitable material is available, it may be used for numerous woodworking applications, including:
- Furniture
- Interior woodworking
- Carving
- Wood turning
- Small boxes
- Decorative objects
- General carpentry
- Utility items
- Craft projects
- Wood collections
Sustainability & Notes
Kalkora Silk Tree occurs naturally across portions of eastern and southern Asia and is considerably less prominent in international forestry than several fast-growing Albizia species cultivated specifically for plantation timber.
Because commercial harvesting and international trade information for the species is limited, geographic provenance is particularly important when documenting lumber or collector specimens.
Scientific identification should also be retained. Common names within Albizia frequently overlap between regions, and terms such as silk tree, siris, and albizia may be applied to multiple species.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Silk Tree – A closely related Asian Albizia widely cultivated as an ornamental and useful for comparing the appearance and growth characteristics of Asian silk trees.
White Siris – A larger Asian Albizia used regionally as a multipurpose timber and producing generally pale to medium-brown wood.
Red Siris – A related species producing darker reddish-brown heartwood and providing a strong visual comparison with the generally lighter Kalkora Silk Tree.
Related Guides
Albizia Species Guide
Explore the Albizia genus and compare Kalkora Silk Tree with Silk Tree, Red Siris, White Siris, East Indian Walnut, Moluccan Albizia, Falcataria, and other related species.
Understanding Interlocked vs. Straight Grain
Learn how grain orientation influences appearance, figure, machining characteristics, and finished surface quality.
Preventing Tear-Out in Interlocked Grain
Explore woodworking techniques for reducing torn grain when planing, routing, and surfacing woods with interlocked or reversing fibers.
Best Woods for Wood Turning
Compare woods used for turning and learn how density, grain, figure, stability, and cutting characteristics affect turned projects.
Building a Documented Wood Collection
Learn how scientific identification, geographic origin, acquisition records, and provenance increase the educational and historical value of wood specimens.
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
Kalkora Silk Tree is particularly worthwhile for collectors building a botanical series of Albizia woods. Because the species is not commonly encountered in the international lumber trade, a correctly identified specimen can provide greater educational value than its commercial importance might suggest.
Displaying Kalkora Silk Tree alongside Silk Tree, White Siris, Red Siris, East Indian Walnut, Moluccan Albizia, and Falcataria can demonstrate the substantial variation in coloration, density, grain, and growth characteristics found within the broader Albizia group.
Scientific identification and geographic provenance should remain attached to specimens whenever possible, especially because regional common names can create confusion among Albizia species.
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.