Ambrosia Maple (Soft Maple with fungal staining)
Acer rubrum / Acer saccharinum · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern and Central North America
- Hardness
- 950 lbf (Medium)
- Durability
- Non-durable to Slightly Durable; susceptible to decay if exposed to moisture, though sound when dried for interior use.
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Grain Pattern
Straight to slightly wavy flat-sawn face grain with distinct elongated gray-brown streaks and bore holes caused by ambrosia beetles.
Color & Appearance
Pale cream to light yellowish-tan background sapwood, highlighted by prominent dark brown, gray, and black longitudinal streaks (ambrosia mineral discoloration).
Hardness (Janka)
950 lbf (Medium)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Non-durable to Slightly Durable; susceptible to decay if exposed to moisture, though sound when dried for interior use.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $6.00 - $10.00 per board foot depending on figure intensity and board width.
- Wood Age Estimate
- Modern lumber cut; surface appears recently planed and dressed within the last 1-3 years.
- Sustainability Status
- Not CITES listed; classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Widely available and sustainably harvested.
Common Uses
Turning blanks, specialty furniture, cutting boards, tabletops, decorative crafts, cabinetry, and accent veneers.
Geographic Origin
Eastern and Central North America
Workability
Generally good workability; planes and sands easily. Occasional tearout can occur near knots or heavy streaking around beetle galleries.
Finish Recommendations
Clear finishes such as wipe-on polyurethane, lacquers, or natural oils (tung/danish oil) highlight the contrast between the pale wood and dark streaks.
Notable Features
Distinctive dark streaking created by symbiotic fungi carried by ambrosia beetles; central entry holes visible within the streaks; faint sweet odor when worked.
