Common uses
Furniture, veneer, flooring, cabinets, paneling, turned objects and musical instruments.
Congo-DRC timber profile
Wenge
Millettia laurentii
Species overview
Distinctive by nature.
Wenge is a very dark tropical wood with a distinctive figure and strong partridge pattern. Heavy, moderately hard and wear-resistant, it is popular in segmented turning and high-end decorative applications. Its near-black tone retains its character over time.
Common namesWenge
Scientific nameMillettia laurentii
DistributionCentral Africa
Tree size60–90 ft (18–27 m) tall; 3–4 ft (1–1.2 m) trunk diameter
Average dried weight54 lbs/ft³ (870 kg/m³)
Crushing strength11,710 lbf/in² (80.7 MPa)
ShrinkageRadial 4.8%; Tangential 8.1%; Volumetric 12.9%; T/R Ratio 1.7
Color & appearance
Heartwood is medium brown, sometimes with reddish or yellowish hues and nearly black streaks. Oil finishes can make the wood appear almost black.
Grain & texture
Straight grain with a very coarse texture and low natural luster.
Rot resistance
Rated very durable and resistant to termite attack.
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