Holly

Ilex opaca
• Also known as |
American Holly|Holly
Holly lumber at Rare Woods USA

Holly (Ilex opaca), also called American Holly, is the closest thing to a truly white wood. It’s prized for its consistent pale color, which shows little to no visible grain, and it holds that color well over time.

The wood is ivory white to very pale grey, with a fine, even texture. Holly has to be dried quickly after cutting to prevent blue-grey fungal discoloration, so it’s usually harvested in winter and kiln-dried promptly. That’s why truly white boards command a premium.

It glues, stains and finishes well, though interlocked grain and knots can make it tricky to work. It turns and carves beautifully. A clear, hard finish helps it keep its color, and it isn’t durable outdoors.

Traditionally used for inlay, stringing, marquetry and accents, it’s becoming popular with turners for its looks and turning qualities. It’s sometimes dyed black as an ebony substitute for decorative work, though it isn’t dense enough for most instrument uses. For a creamy yellow alternative, see Boxwood.

Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Why We Love This Wood

Holly is your best chance of a wood that stays as close to white as possible over time.

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Holly lumber at Rare Woods USA
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A Popular Choice in
inlay specialty items
Vital Statistics
Main Color GroupYellow / White
Grain Pattern Even
Avg Dry Weight - LB/BF3.3
Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3640
Janka Hardness - LBF1020
Janka Hardness - N4540
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HOLLY1288_1
Holly
HOLLY1288
.91"
x 5.94" x
35.5"
| Grade: AB
Bow. Bark inclusion. Wane.

$54.30

Add
HOLLY1287_1
Holly
HOLLY1287
.91"
x 7.38" x
34"
| Grade: B
Knots. Bark inclusion. Minor skip plane.

$56.43

Add
HOLLY1285_1
Holly
HOLLY1285
.91"
x 5.81" x
35.56"
| Grade: AB
Wane. Check.

$52.65

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HOLLY1283_1
Holly
HOLLY1283
.91"
x 5.88" x
35.5"
| Grade: B
Wane. Bark inclusion.

$47.70

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HOLLY1282_1
Holly
HOLLY1282
.91"
x 7" x
35.25"
| Grade: B
Crack. Minor bark inclusion. Knots. Minor skip plane.

$57.42

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HOLLY1281_1
Holly
HOLLY1281
.91"
x 7.13" x
35"
| Grade: AB
Skip plane. Minor bark inclusion. Knots.

$64.40

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HOLLY1280_1
Holly
HOLLY1280
0.94"
x 7.13" x
34.13"
| Grade: B
Knots. Crack.

$55.08

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HOLLY1279_1
Holly
HOLLY1279
.92"
x 7.13" x
34.25"
| Grade: AB
Knots. Minor wane.

$61.50

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HOLLY1278_1
Holly
HOLLY1278
.91"
x 5.63" x
34.69"
| Grade: AB
Knots. Bark inclusion.

$50.55

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HOLLY1277_1
Holly
HOLLY1277
.91"
x 5.88" x
34.62"
| Grade: B
Checks. Knots. Bark inclusion.

$46.85

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HOLLY1276_1
Holly
HOLLY1276
.91"
x 5.94" x
34.25"
| Grade: AB
Knots. Bark inclusion

$51.80

Add
HOLLY1275_1
Holly
HOLLY1275
.91"
x 7.19" x
34.13"
| Grade: AB
Checks. Knots. Bark inclusion

$61.75

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HOLLY1273_1
Holly
HOLLY1273
0.94"
x 5.89" x
35.56"
| Grade: AB
Wane. Check Knot. Worm hole. Minor bark inclusion.

$53.50

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HOLLY1272_1
Holly
HOLLY1272
.90"
x 7.75" x
31.56"
| Grade: AB
Knots. Checks. Bark inclusion.

$63.50

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HOLLY1271_1
Holly
HOLLY1271
.9"
x 7.75" x
31.75"
| Grade: AB
Checks. Knots.

$63.05

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holly
ALSO AVAILABLE (Holly)

Description

Grade

UOM

Price

Holly-Standard-4/4Lumber
4/4 Lumber
Standard
bf
30
bf
no
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