Ambrosia Maple (Soft Maple / Sugar Maple with beetle character)
Acer rubrum / Acer saccharum · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 950 to 1,450 lbf (Medium to Hard, depending on whether soft or hard maple species)
- Durability
- Non-durable to Slightly Durable; susceptible to decay and insect attack if exposed to moisture, recommended for interior use only.
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Grain Pattern
Mostly straight grain with light flat-sawn cathedral patterns, featuring distinctive elongated dark flame-like streaks (ambrosia staining) extending from small insect bore holes.
Color & Appearance
Creamy white to light reddish-brown sapwood background with striking grayish-brown to dark brown streaks caused by the ambrosia beetle and associated fungus. Yellows slightly with age.
Hardness (Janka)
950 to 1,450 lbf (Medium to Hard, depending on whether soft or hard maple species)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Non-durable to Slightly Durable; susceptible to decay and insect attack if exposed to moisture, recommended for interior use only.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $4.50 - $8.00 per board foot depending on figure intensity and local availability.
- Wood Age Estimate
- Recently milled lumber (likely less than 5 years old), freshly dressed face with visible planer skip marks and raw surface.
- Sustainability Status
- Least Concern (IUCN); widely available and sustainable, abundant throughout North American forests.
Common Uses
Furniture making, cabinetry, decorative turnings, cutting boards, tabletop surfaces, paneling, and specialty woodworking.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Turns, glues, sands, and finishes exceptionally well. Cuts cleanly, though grain around figure streaks can occasionally cause minor tearout if tools are dull.
Finish Recommendations
Clear topcoats such as film-building polyurethane, lacquer, or conversion varnish, as well as penetrating oils (tung or Danish oil) highlight the character streaks beautifully without hiding grain.
Notable Features
Distinctive flame-shaped dark discoloration running parallel to grain lines originating from small pinpoint hole bored by ambrosia beetles (fungal symbiosis).
