Wood Species Guide

Monkey Pod

Albizia saman (syn. Samanea saman)

Also called: Suar, Rain Tree, Raintree, Samán, Cenízaro, Guango, Monkeypod, Acacia (in some import listings)

Monkey pod, sold in Asia as suar, is the classic two-tone live edge slab: pale straw sapwood framing a rich chocolate heart. It is medium-hard, works easily and makes stunning coffee and dining tables.

ImportHardwoodTropical Slab Woods

Good forTabletops & Slabs River Tables Outdoor & Rot-Resistant

About the name “Monkey Pod”

Monkey pod is sometimes labeled acacia in import listings, but it is not a true Acacia; see our Acacia page for that group.

What Monkey Pod looks like

Heartwood is a golden to dark chocolate brown, often streaked with darker lines. The sapwood is a pale straw yellow and contrasts sharply with the heartwood, which is the look most people picture when they think of monkey pod tables.

Grain and texture

Grain can be straight, wavy or interlocked, and figure such as curl and ribbon shows up often. Texture is medium to coarse with a good natural sheen.

Working Monkey Pod: planing, cutting and gluing

Generally easy to work for its weight. Interlocked or figured areas can tear out under a planer, so take light passes or flatten with a router sled or CNC. It glues and screws well and sands to a smooth surface.

Finishing Monkey Pod: oil, film finishes and epoxy

Finishes beautifully with oil, hardwax oil or a clear film. The figure lights up with a coat of oil before the topcoat. For epoxy, seal coat first and pour in sensible lifts; the wood itself does not interfere with cure.

Durability, stability and Florida humidity

Heartwood is durable and resists insects well. It is fairly stable for a wide slab, but the sapwood is less durable and the two zones can move a little differently. In Florida, acclimate the slab indoors, finish top and bottom the same, and keep outdoor pieces under cover.

Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop

Monkey pod is one of our most popular slabs, and for good reason. The two-tone look of blond sapwood around a dark heart makes a statement in a coffee table, dining table or round side table. Our slabs come in from Central America where the tree is called cenízaro. Leave the sapwood on and you get that classic contrast; trim it off and you get a warm all-brown top. It flattens well on the CNC and takes epoxy fills in its natural cracks without drama.

Common uses for Monkey Pod

Live-edge dining, coffee and end tables, river tables, carved bowls, furniture, cabinetry, veneer and ukuleles.

Sustainability and CITES status

Not listed in the CITES Appendices and not considered threatened. Widely planted as a shade tree across the tropics.

Safety and toxicity

Our toxicity rating ModerateWhat the ratings mean

Eye irritation
Respiratory / asthma
Nausea or headache

Eye irritation from the dust is the most common report. Related woods have also been linked to nausea, dizziness and nosebleeds, but serious reactions are uncommon.

In the shop: Dust collection + mask + eye protection when sanding
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 eyes in some people; serious reactions are uncommon. Wear eye and dust protection when sanding.

Wood toxicity and dust safety guide: every species compared