Wood Species Guide
African Walnut
Lovoa trichilioides
Also called: Dibetou, Lovoa, Nigerian Golden Walnut, Congowood, Bibolo
About the name “African Walnut”
African walnut is not a walnut. It belongs to the mahogany family, alongside sapele and Spanish cedar, and only resembles walnut in its golden brown color and dark streaks. It is also sold as "tigerwood" now and then, a name that more often means goncalo alves (which has its own page).
What African Walnut looks like
Heartwood is golden to reddish brown, often with darker streaks and veins, and it darkens with age. The narrow gray-yellow sapwood is clearly set off.
Grain and texture
Grain is usually a little interlocked, giving a ribbon stripe on quartersawn faces. Texture is medium and even, with a high luster.
Working African Walnut: planing, cutting and gluing
Easy to work with hand or power tools for its weight. Interlocked grain can tear out when planing, so use sharp knives and a light last pass. It turns, glues and finishes well and has a mild cedar-like scent.
Finishing African Walnut: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Oil brings out the golden color and ribbon stripe. The medium pores benefit from a seal coat before epoxy to limit bubbles. Like most mahogany relatives it deepens in color with light.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Rated moderately durable. The heartwood resists powderpost beetles but not termites, so keep it off the ground and away from termite pressure. In Florida, acclimate it and finish all faces.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
African walnut is a lighter, gentler stand-in for walnut in furniture and cabinets, and it shows up mostly as flooring and veneer in the US. It machines easily and looks rich under a hardwax oil. If you want true walnut color, black walnut or Peruvian walnut is the closer match. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for African Walnut
Flooring, veneer, plywood, furniture, cabinetry and turned objects.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. It is rated Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
Skin, eye and airway irritation have been reported. Serious reactions are uncommon.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding; gloves for sensitive skin
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
The dust has been reported to irritate skin, eyes and airways. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
African Walnut in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have African Walnut listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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