Can You Burn Magnolia Wood? Facts & FAQ

Perhaps you saw someone selling magnolia firewood on the side of the road, or maybe you just took down a magnolia tree on your property. Either way, you want to know whether you can or if you should burn magnolia wood. Like most woods, magnolia burns extremely well, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best firewood out there.

Here, we break down everything that you need to know about potentially burning magnolia wood and if it’s worth your time and money.

Can You Burn Magnolia Wood?

Yes, you can burn magnolia wood, and there’s nothing stopping you from doing it. It’s an excellent option if you have excessive magnolia wood lying around and don’t want to just throw it away.

Is Magnolia Wood Good Firewood?

When it comes to finding the best possible firewood, magnolia wood isn’t it. While it can make a great starter wood, it’s not what you want for a prolonged burn. Magnolia wood isn’t that dense and it burns extremely fast.

This is an excellent characteristic for a starter wood, but if you want a longer fire, you’ll be constantly throwing more magnolia wood into the fire. You could do worse than magnolia, but it’s still not the ideal choice.

Is Burning Magnolia Wood Safe?

As long as you properly season the wood, burning magnolia wood is completely safe. In fact, many people sell magnolia wood specifically for burning.

However, if you have magnolia wood furniture, check if there are any varnishes, conditioners, or paints on the wood. While it’s perfectly safe to burn the wood itself, any products on it might create their own hazards.

Also, keep in mind that burning any wood can create issues, depending on the conditions. This is especially true if you’re burning wood outdoors. Watch out for excessive wind and dry conditions, and consider burning your wood on a different day if conditions aren’t safe.

Disadvantages of Burning Magnolia Wood

The primary disadvantage of burning magnolia wood is how fast it burns. It also doesn’t provide much of a coaling effect. This means it doesn’t keep you that warm compared to other firewood options, and you’ll need to keep adding more wood to the fire.

Another disadvantage of burning magnolia wood is the price. While it’s not the most expensive wood out there, when you take into account how fast it burns, you’ll have to spend quite a bit of money to get enough. When comparing the price of magnolia wood to other wood options, it’s typically available for a similar price as poplar.

Other Uses for Magnolia Wood

While you might find magnolia firewood, it’s more popular for the construction of furniture. It’s a relatively easy wood to work with, and it’s also lightweight.

You can find magnolia wood on doors and other millwork, and some people use magnolia wood for pallets. Magnolia wood typically has extremely straight grains, making it great for any type of woodwork where you want consistent-looking results across the entire finished product.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know more about magnolia wood, it’s up to you to decide if you want to burn it. While we don’t recommend purchasing magnolia firewood over other firewood options out there, sometimes there’s a deal that you just can’t pass up.

If you already have magnolia wood on your property, burning it is perfectly fine and is better than just sending it to the dump!

Featured Image Credit: Engin_Akyurt, Pixabay