Where Does Mahogany Wood Come From? Countries and Species

Mahogany grows naturally in two separate regions: the American tropics, from southern Mexico to Bolivia and across the Caribbean (genus Swietenia), and West and Central Africa (genus Khaya). It is not native to Asia, Canada, or Europe, although plantations now exist in Asia and the Pacific. This guide covers the real range of each species, where today’s lumber is actually cut, and how to read a lumber label before you buy.

Where Does Mahogany Grow? Species, Ranges and Status

The word “mahogany” covers several different trees, and their ranges do not overlap. The table below sorts the true mahoganies by where they grow naturally and how they are protected.

Species	Trade names	Natural range	Protection
Swietenia macrophylla	Honduran, big-leaf, Peruvian, Brazilian mahogany	Southern Mexico through Central America to Bolivia and the Brazilian Amazon	CITES Appendix II (trade controls in force since 15 November 2003)
Swietenia mahagoni	Cuban, West Indian, Dominican mahogany	Caribbean islands, the Bahamas, and southern Florida	CITES Appendix II (1992); IUCN Endangered
Khaya species	African mahogany	West and Central Africa	CITES Appendix II for the whole genus; main species IUCN Vulnerable

A third American species, Pacific Coast mahogany (Swietenia humilis), grows on the Pacific side of Central America and Mexico but is rarely sold as lumber.

Big-Leaf Mahogany: Mexico to the Amazon

Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) has the widest range of any true mahogany. It grows from southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and the rest of Central America, then into Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and the Brazilian Amazon. This is the species most people mean by “genuine” mahogany, and it is the wood behind most of the classic mahogany desks and fine furniture that built the wood’s reputation.

The best-known trade name, Honduran mahogany, is a label rather than a source. It comes from the era when logs were shipped out of Honduras and Belize. Today the name is applied to big-leaf mahogany from anywhere in its range, so a board sold as Honduran may have grown in Peru or on a plantation.

Peru is the main source of internationally traded wild big-leaf mahogany, and most Peruvian mahogany is shipped to the United States. Brazil, Bolivia and Mexico hold large natural stands, but exports from them have been far smaller.

Big-leaf mahogany trade has been regulated under CITES Appendix II since 15 November 2003, which means exporters need permits showing the wood was legally and sustainably harvested. Source: CITES press release, 2003

Cuban Mahogany: The Caribbean Original

Cuban or West Indian mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) grows on Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands, the Bahamas, and the southern tip of Florida. It was the first mahogany Europeans shipped home and the wood behind much 18th-century fine furniture. Heavy cutting stripped most wild stands, and the species is now listed as Endangered by the IUCN and sits on CITES Appendix II.

That history is why almost no new Cuban mahogany reaches the market. If a seller offers it, ask for the paperwork. Old furniture and reclaimed boards are the realistic source, and an antique piece is not the same thing as a freshly cut log.

African Mahogany: Khaya Species in West and Central Africa

African mahogany comes from Khaya trees such as Khaya ivorensis, Khaya anthotheca, Khaya grandifoliola and Khaya senegalensis. They grow in the forests and savanna belts of West and Central Africa. Khaya belongs to the same plant family as Swietenia (Meliaceae), so the wood looks and machines similarly, but it is a different genus and not “true” mahogany in the strict sense.

For most woodworkers this is the mahogany that is actually in stock. Khaya ivorensis tests at roughly 830 to 910 lbf on the Janka scale, close to the 800 to 900 lbf of big-leaf mahogany (see our full mahogany hardness numbers). The main Khaya species are rated Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and the whole genus is on CITES Appendix II, so “African” does not automatically mean “unregulated.” Compare it with a close cousin in African mahogany vs sapele.

Does Mahogany Grow in Asia? The Plantation Reality

No mahogany is native to Asia, but several Asian countries grow it. Big-leaf and West Indian mahogany were introduced as plantation trees in places such as Indonesia and India, and in Fiji and other Pacific islands. Java’s state forestry company lists mahogany (kayu mahoni) timber among its products. Plantation wood is usually cut younger than old-growth logs, so expect lighter color and less figure.

Three common mix-ups explain most of the odd search results people see:

• Mahonia is not mahogany. Mahonia (Oregon grape) is an unrelated shrub with spiny leaves.
• Mahogany is not native to Canada. It is a tropical and subtropical tree, and no Swietenia species grows naturally north of southern Florida.
• “Philippine mahogany” is not mahogany. It is a trade name for lauan and related Southeast Asian woods in a different plant family.

Where Does Mahogany Lumber Actually Come From Today?

Three supply streams make up the legal market. Wild big-leaf mahogany comes mostly from Peru under CITES permits. Plantation big-leaf mahogany comes from Pacific and Asian estates. African mahogany (Khaya) is sawn in West and Central Africa and exported in volume. Reclaimed Cuban mahogany from old buildings and furniture covers the rest.

Because trade names are loose, read the label against this table before paying a premium:

Label on the lumber	What it usually is	Real mahogany?
Honduran mahogany	Swietenia macrophylla	Yes, true mahogany
Cuban mahogany	Swietenia mahagoni	Yes, true mahogany
African mahogany	Khaya species	Same family, different genus
Sapele	Entandrophragma cylindricum	Same family, different genus
Philippine mahogany	Lauan and related Shorea woods	No, unrelated family
Santos mahogany	Myroxylon balsamum	No, a legume-family wood

If you are comparing boards by eye, our guide to identifying mahogany covers grain and pore differences, and mahogany vs sapele covers the most common substitute.

Which Country Makes the Best Mahogany Doors and Windows?

No single country makes “the best” mahogany doors. Quality depends on the species, the grade of the boards and the joinery, not the factory’s location. A door built from big-leaf mahogany or Khaya with straight, quartersawn stiles will outlast a door of mixed-grain stock from any country. Ask the maker which species they use and where the logs were cut. Outdoor use adds finish demands, which we cover in our guide to mahogany windows.

Is Mahogany Legal and Sustainable to Buy?

Yes, when it is documented. CITES Appendix II is a permit system, not a ban: exporters must show the harvest did not threaten the species. In the United States, the Lacey Act also makes it illegal to import plants taken in violation of the source country’s laws, so a seller should be able to tell you the species and country of origin.

• Ask for the botanical name, not just “mahogany.”
• Ask for the country of harvest and whether the wood is wild or plantation.
• Look for FSC certification on the lumber or invoice.
• Be suspicious of large Cuban mahogany boards sold new and cheap.

Threats differ by region: selective logging of the biggest trees and forest clearing in the Amazon basin, over-cutting of Caribbean stands, and heavy demand for Khaya in Africa. Plantations reduce pressure on wild trees, but they do not replace the genetic diversity of old forests.

Mahogany also has a long record in boats, instruments and burial furniture, such as a mahogany casket, which is why demand stays high even as supply tightens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does mahogany grow?

True mahogany (Swietenia) grows in the American tropics, from southern Mexico through Central America to Bolivia and the Brazilian Amazon, plus the Caribbean and southern Florida. African mahogany (Khaya) grows in West and Central Africa. Mahogany is also planted on plantations in Asia and the Pacific, but it is not native there.

Where does Honduran mahogany really come from?

Honduran mahogany is the trade name for big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). The name dates from when logs left through Honduras and Belize. Today the wood sold under that name can come from Peru, other parts of Latin America, or plantations, so ask for the country of harvest.

Is mahogany grown in Africa?

Yes, but it is a different genus. African mahogany comes from Khaya trees in West and Central Africa. It is in the same plant family as true mahogany and similar in hardness, so it is the usual affordable substitute, but it is not Swietenia.

Is mahogany endangered or illegal to buy?

Mahogany is not illegal to buy, but it is regulated. Big-leaf mahogany, Cuban mahogany and the Khaya genus are all on CITES Appendix II, which requires export permits. Cuban mahogany is listed as Endangered by the IUCN, so legally sourced new stock is rare.

Does mahogany grow in Asia or Canada?

Mahogany is not native to either. It is a tropical and subtropical tree. Asia has mahogany plantations, for example in Indonesia and India, but wild stands are only in the Americas and Africa. Canada is too cold for any true mahogany to grow naturally.

Conclusion

True mahogany grows naturally in the American tropics and the Caribbean, African mahogany grows in West and Central Africa, and Asian mahogany is planted, not native. Check the botanical name and country of origin on the invoice, and use the label table above to avoid paying genuine-mahogany prices for look-alikes. If you are ready to shop, start with our guide to where to buy mahogany wood, or browse the wider types of wood guide to compare mahogany with other hardwoods.