Wood Atlas - Xylarium
Lilacwood
The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is a member of the olive family and is one of 20-25 lilac species worldwide. It often grows as a shrub or as a smaller tree growing to heights of 6 to 20 feet. The common lilac is widespread in southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. In 1560, Habsburg ambassador Ogier Ghislain de Busbecq brought the common lilac from Istanbul to Vienna. Since the end of the 16th century, it has been found in France and has later become common in the cottage gardens of Central Europe.
Lilac wood is somewhat problematic if not yet dry. It has an extreme tendency to crack, helped on by its frequently gnarled growth patterns. Once the wood is dry, it offers many advantages from significant hardness and density to its decorative color.