Is Russian Olive A Hardwood

Technically olive is a part of the oleaceæ family and is more closely related to ash fraxinus spp and lilac syringa vulgaris.

Is russian olive a hardwood.

Olive is diffuse porous while russian olive is ring porous. Most russian olive at most will be 12 inch diameter at 5 feet with all kinds of branching above that. It has a sentimental and religious significance to several cultures and religions. It has a strong cat urine odor when turned green and i m sure any lumber would.

Russian olive is not closely related to the wood that is commonly referred to as olivewood olea europaea and may be distinguished from true olive by the endgrain. Use a combination of woods instead. Called hardwood cuttings roots will form more easily for this particular tree. Fires made solely with this wood are difficult to start.

Europe africa middle east olivewood is an exotic wood that is native to europe africa and the middle east. Russian olive wood produces an unpleasant odor when green. A secret weapon in wood identification. Does anyone know anything about using it for firewood.

Russian olive wood burns very slowly. Don t burn it until it has seasoned for at least one year. I have a russian olive that i cut down about 4 months ago and has been sitting in 100f weather for three weeks. Olivewood olea spp is sometimes confused with russian olive elaeagnus angustifolia though it bears little relation to true olive and is in an entirely different family of trees.

I have turned many smaller bowls from it but getting from green rough turning to final turning after a kind of controlled air drying without checks is problematic. It also won t burn and will produce excess smoke.