Mostly planted as ornamental trees, magnolia is a sub-family derived from the Magnoliaceae family. They are native to southern states where they are in abundance. However, in some areas of the US, some magnolia varieties are illegal to chop down.
As a close relative to poplar, how does magnolia fair as firewood in comparison?
Magnolia firewood provides decent heat for a moderate amount of time. It is a very average wood to burn with no real creditable features. It is technically hardwood but burns similarly to softwoods, producing a BTU of between 18.9 and 21.3 million per cord.
What Are The Varieties Of Magnolia Wood?
Even though there are 8 magnolias native to the US, there are varieties growing all over the world. But only 3 varieties are commonly used for firewood in the US:
Magnolia evergreen – This is the highest burning variety with a BTU of 21.3. Most magnolia trees are of the evergreen variety and are the most common.
Magnolia cucumber – As a deciduous tree, magnolia cucumber tends to hold a little bit more water than other magnolia types. It is a very large tree growing around 70 feet tall.
Magnolia mountain – Aka Fraser magnolia tends to be on the smaller side and can be quite a fragrant tree.
What Are The Physical Characteristics Of Magnolia Wood?
| Name | Magnolia |
| Heat per cord (Million BTUs) | 18.9 – 21.3 |
| Weight dry (lbs per cord) | 2740 – 3094 |
| Weight green (lbs per cord) | 3995 – 4165 |
| Seasoning time | 18 months |
| Resin/ Sap Content | Little |
| Splitting Difficulty | Easy |
| Smoke | Little |
| Smell | Neutral |
| Coal Production | Poor |
| Creosote Build-up | Little |
Is it to Split?
Even when cut at a more mature age, magnolia wood is usually soft and easy to slice through. This is why it is an easy wood to split.
In the case of softwoods, it is usually best to split the wood when it is dry, but magnolia is just easy to split green as it is seasoned.
How Much Sap Content does it Have?
As a huge upside, magnolia is not rich in sap, compared to other, coniferous trees like cedar, fir, or pine for example
Softwoods like pine can carry a lot of sap but magnolia is different from other similarly classed firewood BTU wise.
What Does it Smell Like?
The flowers that bloom on a magnolia tree are especially sweet-smelling during warmer seasons, though its bark does not have a distinct smell. As such, magnolia is not a fragrant wood.
If you want your home to smell amazing while burning wood, try cedar or sugar maple instead.
Moisture Levels
Magnolia does tend to favor moist soil and some varieties of magnolia are classified as deciduous trees.
However, the wood is very good at soaking up and distributing its moisture. This leaves magnolia with low moisture content, except the cucumber variety, which as you can tell by the name, contains more moisture.
Heat Output and Efficiency
Unlike most hardwoods, magnolia is not very dense. It will burn up as quickly as poplar or alder firewood.
For the short while that it does burn, you can get some decent heat from it, but not a lot considering it’s hardwood.
The best magnolia variety to burn is the evergreen kind which can produce a BTU of up to 21.3. This is just as good as sycamore but considerably lower than sugar maple and locust.
As for the lower burning magnolias, they can only reach a BTU of around 18.9. When compared to softwoods, this is a good amount of heat. But for hardwood, it is only an average performance.
Your best bet is to mix magnolia in with better burning hardwoods like oak. Magnolia will catch a flame and produce a decent heat, but oak will make your fire hotter and will last through the night.
Fire Characteristics Of Magnolia
Let’s take a look at the fire characteristics of magnolia to determine the best situation to use it in.
Creosote build-up
With low moisture and sap levels, there is a very low chance of magnolia creating enough creosote to cause problems. Likewise, it burns out very quickly.
Creosote tends to build up quickly when a wood smokes an excessive amount or contains high levels of sap/resin. A prime example would be conifers, like pine firewood.
Amount Of Smoke
Just like with most hardwoods, magnolia does produce some smoke, but it is neither terribly strong nor problematic. It is also short-burning wood, so it doesn’t have the chance to create lots of smoke.
So long as you have a properly functional fireplace, the smoke from magnolia will not cause any issue while burning.
Does It Produce Coals?
If you want to have a fire last through the night, you will need wood that produces high-quality coals. These coals add fuel to the fire to keep it hot and burning.
Compared to oak or black locust, magnolia produces next to new coals. Not only that but the few coals it does produce are of very low quality.
Since it does need maintenance to keep the fire going, it is a great choice for late-night campfires.
Is It Okay To Burn Magnolia In A Fireplace?
While quite safe wood to burn, magnolia is not that effective when used in a fireplace. Its heat is enough to warm you for a short while, but its quick-burning will not maintain enough heat to warm your house.
That being said, magnolia does not produce many sparks or creosote. So if you are only wanting to ward off a chill, then magnolia would be a good fireplace wood.
For a longer burning, more effective fire in the winter, you can mix magnolia wood in with oak, maple, or even with tamarack.
How Long To Season Magnolia Wood?
Magnolia will not burn for long. However, seasoning any wood will help it perform better. Especially if you wait until the wood has reached a moisture content of 20% or below.
To get the most effective use out of your magnolia firewood, season it for at least 18 months. It is rot-resistant wood so you can season it for longer if you wish.
Pros And Cons Of Using Magnolia as Firewood
Pros:
- Very easy to prepare
- Low sap content
- Low moisture content
- Common
- Little creosote build-up
Cons:
- Quick burning
- Few and poor coals
- Low BTU
How Does Magnolia Compare To Other Firewood?
If magnolia was a softwood, then it would be great, burning just as good as tulip poplar. However, as a hardwood, magnolia performs poorly.
Its BTU is nothing to brag about, easily bested by chestnut and maple. The best thing about magnolia is that it is a safe, convenient wood to burn with little smoke and few sparks.
Even the smell of magnolia is lacking in comparison to more fragranced woods such as pine or tulip poplar.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can Magnolia Be Used On A Stove?
Magnolia is a great wood to burn on a stove. It will not smoke a lot and does not create many sparks, making it a safe wood to burn.
Though its fast burn is a disadvantage when heating your home, magnolia will burn for just long enough to cook your food or to be used during milder weather conditions to heat your home.
When Should I Burn Magnolia?
Due to its low to moderate heat generation, magnolia is best suited for early autumn or late spring. Its fire will be hot enough to take the chilly edge out of a room but will not burn for too long, creating a comfortable heat.
During the winter months, go with a better performing hardwood like oak.
What Does BTU Measure?
BTU (British Thermal Units) measures how much heat a piece of wood generates. The higher the BTU, the hotter and longer firewood will burn.
Though there will always be exceptions, especially if you fail to season firewood properly.
Conclusion
Magnolia firewood gives adequate heat for a reasonable amount of time. It is a relatively mediocre wood to burn with no notable characteristics even though it is a hardwood. If you happen to have so magnolia lying around, burn it. But if not, chose more effective firewood.
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