Common uses
Furniture, veneer, flooring, cabinetry, boatbuilding, turned items and specialty wood products.
Congo-DRC timber profile
Iroko
Milicia excelsa / M. regia
Species overview
Distinctive by nature.
Iroko is very durable outdoors and generally does not require regular oil or varnish treatment. Its initially yellow color develops into a richer reddish brown over time.
Common namesIroko
Scientific nameMilicia excelsa / M. regia
DistributionTropical Africa
Tree size100–130 ft (30–40 m) tall; 3–5 ft (1–1.5 m) trunk diameter
Average dried weight41 lbs/ft³ (660 kg/m³)
Crushing strength7,840 lbf/in² (54.0 MPa)
ShrinkageRadial 2.8%; Tangential 3.8%; Volumetric 8.8%; T/R Ratio 1.4
Color & appearance
Heartwood ranges from yellow to golden or medium brown and darkens over time. Pale yellow sapwood is clearly demarcated.
Grain & texture
Medium-to-coarse texture with open pores and an interlocked grain.
Rot resistance
Very durable and resistant to rot and insect attack. It is sometimes used as a teak substitute.
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