Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionOregon Myrtle Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Oregon Myrtle 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 nameUmbellularia californica
Janka hardness1,270 lbf
Average dried weight40 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Oregon Myrtle?
Oregon Myrtle is a domestic hardwood species associated with Coastal regions of southwest Oregon and central California. It is useful when the project calls for veneer, cabinetry, fine furniture, musical instruments (guitar backs), interior trim, gunstocks, turned objects, and other small specialty 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 nameUmbellularia californica
DistributionCoastal regions of southwest Oregon and central California
ShrinkageRadial: 2.8%, Tangential: 8.1%, Volumetric: 11.9%, T/R Ratio: 2.9
DurabilityHeart rot is common, and various decay fungi are known to infect living trees.
Oregon Myrtle colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood color can be variable, from light orangish brown to gray or olive, sometimes with darker streaks present. Pale sapwood is usually well defined.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain can be straight, irregular, or wavy. Has a fine uniform texture with low natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, fairly easy to work, though tearout can occur on pieces with figured grain. Has a tendency to burn during drilling and routing, and appropriate speeds and sharp cutters are recommended.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Myrtle has been reported to be a skin irritant as well as a sensitizer.
Oregon Myrtle should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Oregon Myrtle
Best projects
Veneer, cabinetry, fine furniture, musical instruments (guitar backs), interior trim, gunstocks, turned objects, and other small specialty 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 Oregon Myrtle 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.
Oregon Myrtle FAQ
What is Oregon Myrtle best used for?
Oregon Myrtle is best considered for veneer, cabinetry, fine furniture, musical instruments (guitar backs), interior trim, gunstocks, turned objects, and other small specialty items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Oregon Myrtle 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 Oregon Myrtle?
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.