More and more garden and balcony owners are opting for wooden garden furniture. Outdoor furniture made of acacia wood offers one possibility for this, which convinces with numerous advantages.

In a nutshell

  • harder and cheaper than teak
  • Risk of confusion: "real" acacia and "false" acacia
  • high robustness ideal for heavy use

basics

If acacia is mentioned in garden and other wooden furniture, it is often the "wrong" or common acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia). It is also called false acacia and common robinia. The term "Robinia" is also often used incorrectly for the real acacia (Acacia pulchella). Although both belong to the legume family (Fabaceae) and the mimosa subfamily (Mimosoideae), they are not closely related.

The real acacia is mainly found in the subtropics, tropics and in Australia.

Differences between fake and real acacia wood

Although the two types of wood are extremely hard, the “real” acacia wood is still significantly more expensive. The reason for this is the home in the subtropics, tropics and especially in Australia. Accordingly, it is available less frequently in Central Europe and Germany and is therefore also one of the noble, exclusive types of wood. The false acacia originally comes from North and South America, but has also been cultivated in Europe for over 400 years. Both have common properties, but also differ massively in some things. In Germany, the false acacia is also often found in parks and large gardens. Other differences are:

Real acacia woodFake acacia wood
reddish, slightly resembling mahogany woodgreenish brown/beige
usually grows like a shrubgrows as a tree up to 20 meters high
Use in exclusive furniture production and yacht/ship fittingsmainly as "aids" in the construction industry, sleeper timber, shipbuilding, mining, furniture production
Degree of hardness of 4.8with a degree of hardness of 4.0 slightly lower

Tip: Anyone who buys garden furniture made from acacia wood should know whether it is “real” or “fake” wood, especially if the price is high.

Benefits of Acacia Wood

Whether real or false acacia wood, both types have almost the same advantages that make them an ideal type of wood for garden furniture:

1st degree of hardness

Acacia wood is one of the hardest and most robust types of wood available worldwide. It is characterized by enormous robustness, above-average resilience and high resilience. With a degree of hardness of 4.8 or 4.0, both types of wood are even better than the extremely hard oak (3.5) and other types of wood that are widely used in the manufacture of garden furniture, such as:

  • Bamboo (hardness 4.3)
  • Eucalyptus (hardness 3.4)
  • Spruce (hardness 1.3)
  • Larch (hardness 2.2)
  • Teak (hardness 3.9)

2. Weather resistance

Thanks to the high degree of hardness and excellent strength values, the weather cannot harm the garden furniture made of acacia wood. As a result, the wood color remains almost the same intensity for many years without fading. The hardness of the wood also ensures that moisture does not penetrate. Neither swollen wood nor fungal growth are to be expected even after years of use.

Notice: The wood of the acacia darkens slightly over time and usually acquires a slight golden shimmer.

3. Resistant to pest infestation

The high density of acacia wood makes it difficult for pests to get inside the wood. The low level of moisture also makes drilling/eating almost impossible. As a result, this type of wood has a high level of pest resistance on the outside, making it an ideal material for outdoor furniture.

4. Longevity

Another argument in favor of buying acacia garden furniture is its longevity. Even if left permanently untreated, the average lifespan is between 30 and 40 years.

5. Dimensional stability

A major advantage of acacia wood in garden furniture is its relatively high flexibility. This gives it exceptional dimensional stability without warping. In addition, the flexibility also protects against unwanted and unsightly cracks.

optics and maintenance

6. Aesthetic look

The elegant look, a smooth surface texture, sharply defined annual rings and decorative stripes as well as the reddish or golden-brownish wood coloring appear very exclusive and of high quality in combination.

7. Ease of care

Compared to other types of wood, acacia wood is much easier to care for. Due to its smoothness and density, hardly any stubborn dirt gets stuck in the depths, so that a simple wipe or hose down with the garden hose is usually sufficient for cleaning. It also does not require regular oil treatment to keep the wood supple. Basically, there is no further maintenance required than the occasional cleaning with water and a cloth.

environment

8. Environmental protection

While tropical woods such as teak or bamboo are often shipped to Central Europe from abroad, garden furniture made from false acacia wood can help protect the environment.

frequently asked Questions

What are the disadvantages of acacia wood garden furniture?

Acacia wood is relatively heavy due to its high density. Although this contributes significantly to the robustness and longevity and protects it from tipping over in strong winds, it makes moving the outdoor furniture more difficult.

Does acacia wood furniture have to be given a protective impregnation regularly?

This type of wood only requires protective impregnation if it is so-called sapwood. This is the soft wood area that is just under the tree bark. If the heartwood of the acacia is used for your garden furniture, protective impregnation is not necessary; but it can't hurt either.

Can acacia outdoor furniture stay outside all year round?

Theoretically yes, because they are extremely weather-resistant. Nevertheless, you should at least cover them with a protective cover during the winter season or be moved to a dry, frost-free winter quarters - especially if metal parts are present.

In which price segment is the wooden garden furniture of the acacia?

The prices sometimes vary greatly and depend on the origin of the wood. This means that no general price information can be given. This type of wood is usually well below the price of teak, although it has better advantages in some respects.

Category:

Garden design