Wood Species Guide
Pumpkin Ash
Fraxinus profunda
Also called: Red Ash (regional), Swamp Ash (shared name), Southern Swamp Ash
About the name “Pumpkin Ash”
Guitar makers use "swamp ash" for light, low-density ash from southern swamps. That wood can be pumpkin ash, but it is often green ash grown in wet ground, so the name does not pin down one species.
What Pumpkin Ash looks like
Pale cream to light tan sapwood with a light brown heartwood, much like other ashes.
Grain and texture
Straight grain with a coarse, ring-porous texture. Trees from flooded ground often have a swollen, pumpkin-shaped base with lighter, softer wood.
Working Pumpkin Ash: planing, cutting and gluing
Lighter and softer than white ash, so it is easy to cut, rout and sand. It glues and finishes well. Watch for tearout around knots.
Finishing Pumpkin Ash: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Stains well, and the grain pattern shows strongly under clear coats. Grain-fill or seal the open pores before epoxy or a high-gloss finish. Expect light yellowing over time.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Perishable outdoors and prone to powderpost beetles. Fairly stable once dry. In Florida, acclimate it in air conditioning and finish all faces.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Pumpkin ash grows in north Florida's river swamps, and its light butt logs are part of the swamp ash that built many classic electric guitar bodies. Lumber is uncommon and usually sold mixed with other ash. Like all ash in the East, it is threatened by the emerald ash borer. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Pumpkin Ash
Guitar bodies, furniture, millwork, crates, tool handles and general ash lumber uses.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Rated Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List because of the emerald ash borer.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
Few reports on pumpkin ash itself. Ash in general is a mild irritant of skin and airways.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask 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.
Ash dust can irritate the skin and airways, and reduced lung function has been reported with heavy exposure. Use dust collection and a mask.
Pumpkin Ash in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Pumpkin Ash 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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