Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionHolly Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Holly is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameIlex opaca
Janka hardness1,020 lbf
Average dried weight40 lb/ft³
Best fitInlays
Overview
Why choose Holly?
Holly is a domestic hardwood species associated with Eastern United States. It is useful when the project calls for inlays, furniture, piano keys (dyed black), broom and brush handles, turned objects, and other small novelty items
For SEO and customer usefulness, this page separates the science from the buying decision: appearance, working behaviour, durability, project fit, and then the right Kingma shopping path.
Scientific nameIlex opaca
DistributionEastern United States
ShrinkageRadial: 4.8%, Tangential: 9.9%, Volumetric: 16.9%, T/R Ratio: 2.1
DurabilityRated as non-durable or perishable, and susceptible to insect attack.
Holly colour, grain, and figure
Expect ideal lumber has a very uniform, pale white color with virtually no visible grain pattern. Knots are common, which can reduce the usable area of the wood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is interlocked and irregular. Medium to fine uniform texture with moderate natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, can be difficult to work on account of the numerous knots and interlocked grain. Glues, stains, and finishes well, and is sometimes stained black as a substitute for Ebony .
Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Holly.
Holly should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Holly
Best projects
Inlays, furniture, piano keys (dyed black), broom and brush handles, turned objects, and other small novelty items
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Holly from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Live edge slabs
Use when the customer cares more about slab format and visual impact than this exact species.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Holly FAQ
What is Holly best used for?
Holly is best considered for inlays, furniture, piano keys (dyed black), broom and brush handles, turned objects, and other small novelty items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Holly beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Holly?
Use the buying section on this page. If an exact product is not listed, the linked alternatives are included only when they make practical sense for colour, grain, or project use.