Lychee Wood Explained: The Best Wood For Your Outdoor Table

If you’re familiar with the lychee tree, then you know that its greatest reward is the fruit. Its white flesh bears fragrance and sweetness that can be eaten on its own or blended into cocktails, juices and desserts.

Its wood is also famous for smoking or grilling Peking ducks due to its slow-burning quality. When done right, it gives out a mildly sweet flavour that compliments well with meat.

But what most people don’t know is that the lychee wood is also becoming a famous choice in table making, particularly dining tables. Natural and elegant look of lychee wood table gives your space a sense of continuity because it blends well with any type of interior. 

You can also place it outdoors due to its resistance to weather changes, unlike most types of wood. 

Curious to know more? Learn about its origin, characteristics and uses below!

The Basics: What is Lychee Wood?

Known as a type of hardwood, lychee wood is produced from the evergreen lychee tree (Litchi chinensis). It is native to Southeast Asia and is commercially grown in Thailand, Madagascar, India, China and Taiwan. Lychee trees also grow in other countries with summertime heat, rainfall and humidity like South Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean.

The wood has different names, such as litsiyas, lichee, and litchi, to name a few.

Lychee trees are known for their bark colour ranging from grey to black, and the branches have a reddish brown shade. This is why the wood produced from the tree is highly satisfying to the senses which makes it versatile for table making. 

Additionally, its leaves are always green and its foliage looks similar to Lauraceae due to close evolution. They can grow up to 16cm long and have developed to repel water, making them known as lauroid or laurophyll leaves. 

However, plantation lychee trees do not grow higher than about 40 feet and their trunk is not exceptionally thick. Their size can only grow to a diameter that closely resembles a saucer. And since the rings of the years are tight, finding a 150-year-old tree to create a wood slab table is no piece of cake. 

Origin of Lychees: How did it become popular?

Did you know that the existence of lychee wood has already been documented way back in 1059 AD in China? It was the first-ever country that cultivates the tree for its prized fruits, eventually making them the major producer of lychees. 

According to a recent study conducted by a team of global scientists, the first lychee trees grew in Yunnan province. They gradually spread across China via the Xijiang River. 

The fruit became one of the rare delicacies in the Chinese Imperial court during the Han and Qing dynasty. It was in such demand that special couriers would ride fast horses to deliver lychees from Guangdong. 

Thanks to its fruit, the popularity of the lychee tree reached the West. Now, it can be used for jewellery, carvings, tool handles, small furniture items and even big dining tables.

What Makes Lychee Wood Perfect for Outdoor Tables?

If you’re planning to pick the right wood for the next table your family will gather around, lychee wood might be right up your street. Let’s take a look at the best reasons why it can significantly improve your space:

Solidity

Lychee wood is considered to be a premium solid wood because it is extremely durable, dense and hard. 

So, if you’re a homeowner with a family, investing in a dining table made of lychee wood will help you get value for your money. Since it’s usually the gathering spot during occasions, it can withstand wear and tear from everyday use and give comfort to every family member.

The wood is also anti-termite, anti-rot and water-resistant. Unlike black walnut which is susceptible to deterioration from direct sunlight, lychee wood can last long in extreme conditions. This makes it the perfect choice for outdoor dining spaces going for a rustic theme.

Appearance and Versatility

Once a lychee tree is turned into a solid wood table, the natural grandeur it carries is unmatched. Due to its brownish-redwood tone, it is often associated with good luck, making it a good material for feng shui. It also has a zigzag pattern that resembles a tiger’s skin. 

This is why reliable wood makers leave it as natural as possible to maintain its elegance. With just a single lychee wood slab readily available at Wood Capitol, you can create a wooden countertop or any table that fits your preferred shape and achieve a continuous piece simultaneously. 

It gives you the chance to turn your ideas into something real and innovative. What’s more, the wood slabs can be painted over. Thanks to its criss-cross grains, it takes staining quite well without damaging the entire wood. 

If you’re interested in making your lychee wood tables look more unique and stylish, you can freely bring out your creativity. This kind of versatility for timber is hard to find!

Easy Maintenance

Given that lychee wood slabs are resistant to rotting and termites, you don’t have to perform complicated maintenance routines to keep them refined. However, if you want to maintain its lustre, adding stain after a year usually does the trick. 

Where to Order Quality Lychee Wood Slabs in Singapore

Lychee wood slabs, compared to other hardwoods, are not considered traditional choices. However, due to its amazing properties, it’s becoming more well-received in the wood-making industry as time goes by.

If you’re one of the homeowners who’d like to add lychee wood to your space, this is your sign to get started. Wood Capitol offers more than 20 pieces of lychee wood slabs imported from Indonesia that can be crafted into the dining table of your choice. Besides, single slabs are thicker and last longer than joined pieces you’d get from other suppliers!

Whether it’s a bench or dining table set, our talented team of craftsmen is ready to exceed your expectations. We are more than happy to work with you during the stages of design, fabrication and delivery. 

FAQs

Is lychee a hardwood?

Yes, lychee wood is a type of hardwood that is produced from the evergreen lychee tree. It has a natural reddish brown colour and criss-cross grain patterns like a tiger’s skin. 

What is the best quality of lychee wood?

Despite being an underrated wood compared to black walnut, maple and oak, lychee wood is best known for its anti-rot and anti-termite properties. This is the reason why it is used to make tables for outdoor settings, like open balconies and gardens. 

Final Thoughts

Decorating your outdoor spaces with sturdy and decorative tables can be tough since you don’t have a lot of options. However, with lychee wood slabs, you get to upgrade your open balcony, garden or porch and save yourself from stressful maintenance. 

Even under extreme weather conditions, the grandeur of your lychee wood tables will remain untouched. Fortunately, you don’t have to look elsewhere for massive wood slabs and break the bank.

At an affordable price, you can now design the table of your dreams with Wood Capitol. Check out our online store or visit our showroom for more information!