Holly Lumber: A Great Wood for Commercial Use

Holly hardwood lumber (also referred to as Ilex Opaca) comes from North America and is taken from the holly tree. It is commonly 40 to 50 feet in height and has a diameter of 1 to 2 feet, but can reach heights of 80 feet. The holly sapwood is quite wide and much whiter than the heartwood, which ranges from very white to ivory-white in color, with a low luster more closely resembling ivory. Holly features an irregular, very close grain, and an even, very fine texture.

The holly tree has been traditionally connected to Christmas for centuries and its history is important in the traditions of religious belief systems. It is well known for its red berries and spiny green leaves. Holly is significant to Christmas and is a symbol representing the holidays, even in many popular songs. It is commonly used in decorative pieces in homes and in millions of holiday items.

Holly lumber is popularly used to make piano, organ, and accordion keys. It is also used for carving, engraving, turning, and furniture making. Woodworkers also use holly in inlays because of its white color.

With a Janka hardness of 1020, Holly lumber is tough, heavy, and a moderately hard wood. It machines very well, with the help of very sharp wood working tools. It also holds screws well and glue adheres without difficulty. Holly finishes very uniformly and is easy to stain to match other wood species. It is sometimes dyed black and used as a substitute for ebony.

However, due to the interlocking grain pattern of holly, it is sometimes difficult to get a good outcome when drilling, sawing, or planning the wood. Therefore, slow speeds should be used to prevent charring. Holly lumber also has poor bending properties and has little resistance to insect attack and decay-causing fungi.

Experienced woodworker, Tom Elberson, is familiar with the wood working properties of holly lumber. He says that sunlight on fresh cut holly lumber will cause it to discolor. So it’s better to cut it in the winter, manufacture it before hot weather comes, and dry it quickly. This is so you can retain its original white color and so it doesn’t develop a bluish-gray tint.

Holly is recognized for the unique white color of its hardwood lumber. Its green foliage and red berries are also important elements, especially in the Christmas season. Holly is a beautiful choice for any project.

Discover Holly lumber benefits and features.