What is Primavera Wood? 2024

Primavera Wood is Blonde Mahogany Lumber!

Primavera (Roseodendron donnell-smithii) wood is a beautiful hardwood lumber specie native to Central and Northern America. Primavera lumber is often called Blonde Mahogany or White Mahogany.  However, like African Mahogany & Equatorial Mahogany,  “Blond Mahogany” is a common name. Prima-vera is not true mahogany because it is from the Roseodendron genus rather than the Swietenia genus.

Primavera lumber is light weight, pale color, with medium fine interlocking grain.  The appearance resembles white washed mahogany. Hence, the blonde mahogany name.

Primavera trees are large growing timber trees. Its girthy logs makes impressive veneer, furniture and millwork.

Primavera Wood Appearance

The wood color ranges from ivory white to pale white cream/yellow.  Some woodworkers make comparisons to Satinwood. Primavera lumber grain can be very open & wild. Additionally, its grain is uniform to interlocking.

Figured Primavera

Prima-vera’s wood figure can be spectacular. It is prized for it wild chatoyance & ropey ribbon grain. However, while silica adds a shimmering beauty to the wood, it has the potential to dull tools. 

If African Okoume had the bright white color of Avodire, the result would be very close to Prima-vera.  

Machining Blond Mahogany Lumber

Woodworkers love how easily Primavera wood machines. It does have an elevated silica content which can dull the knives of either hand tools or power tools.  Additionally, it is a lightweight wood with low density. 

While this wood machines with ease, drying it is a little more challenging.  In my experience as a hardwood lumber professional, it is a bit prone to stability issues. Thus, it’s more common to find wildly figured Blonde Mahogany sold in veneer form than lumber form.  

Additionally, I know of a few luthiers who experienced mild skin irritation from working with prima vera. Thus, that is something to watch for when working with Blond Mahogany for the first time.