Wood Species Guide
Iroko
Milicia excelsa and Milicia regia
Also called: African Teak, Odum, Mvule, Kambala, Moreira
About the name “Iroko”
Sold as African teak, but the same name is also used for afrormosia; neither is true teak.
What Iroko looks like
Yellow to golden brown when cut, darkening to a medium brown that looks a lot like aged teak.
Grain and texture
Medium to coarse texture with interlocked grain and moderate luster. Hard mineral deposits sometimes form inside the wood.
Working Iroko: planing, cutting and gluing
Generally workable, but interlocked grain tears out on the planer, and those calcium deposits can nick a blade without warning. Use carbide and sharp edges. It glues and screws well.
Finishing Iroko: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Finishes well with oils and film finishes. Like teak it can be finished with oil and left to weather. For epoxy work, a seal coat keeps the coarse pores from bubbling.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Very durable and resistant to rot and termites, with good stability once dry. That makes it a solid outdoor wood for Florida lanais, docks and patio furniture.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Iroko is the go-to when a customer wants teak-like weather resistance for less money. Outdoor tables, benches and boat parts are where it earns its keep. We do not stock it routinely, but ask us and we can often source it. Wear a good mask when you sand it; this one has a reputation for bothering lungs.
Common uses for Iroko
Outdoor furniture, boatbuilding, decking, flooring, cabinetry, turned items and veneer.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Milicia excelsa is rated Near Threatened and Milicia regia Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Safety and toxicity
- Sensitizer (allergy builds with exposure)
- Respiratory / asthma
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
Iroko is a well-known sensitizer. Eye, skin and airway irritation are common, and asthma, boils and lung inflammation have been reported in people who become sensitized.
- In the shop
- Full precautions: dust extraction, respirator, gloves and long sleeves
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
A known sensitizer. Iroko dust can irritate eyes, skin and airways and has been linked to asthma-like symptoms, so use strong dust collection and a respirator.
Iroko in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Iroko 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.
Similar woods: Teak & Teak Alternatives
- TeakIn stockTectona grandis Teak is the classic boat and outdoor wood: oily, very stable and naturally resistant to rot. We carry...
- AfrormosiaPericopsis elata Afrormosia is a durable West African hardwood often sold as African teak, with golden-brown color that matures like...
- AfzeliaAfzelia spp. (African species such as A. africana, A. bipindensis, A. pachyloba) Afzelia is a hard, stable, rot-resistant tropical wood with a warm golden-red color. It is excellent for outdoor...
- CumaruDipteryx odorata Cumaru is a very hard, heavy Brazilian hardwood that holds up outdoors almost as well as ipe. It...
- CurupayAnadenanthera colubrina (also A. peregrina) Curupay is a very hard, heavy South American hardwood used for decks, floors and occasional slabs. It is...
- EkkiLophira alata Ekki, also called azobe, is a dark, extremely heavy West African hardwood used for bridges, docks and marine...