Bilinga

[Bi-lin-ga] [Nauclea diderrichii] Trade names: Opepe (UK), Aloma (DE), Badi (CI), Kusia (GH))

Origin	Tropical West and Central Africa
Raw density	approx. 0.67-0.83 g/cm³ (air-dry)
Service life (durability)	Class 1 – very durable
Radial shrinkage	approx. 4.5 %
Tangential shrinkage	approx. 7.5 %
Wood color	Yellowish to golden brown, darkens
Wood structure	Interwoven, partly wavy grain
Use	Terraces, bridges, hydraulic engineering, industrial floors, sleepers, furniture, parquet, veneer

Bilinga: Origin & wood character

Bilinga grows in the tropical rainforests of countries such as Cameroon, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Uganda. The tree reaches heights of up to 50 m and forms straight, cylindrical trunks that are ideal for high-quality solid wood products. The wood is in demand worldwide due to its natural resistance and high mechanical strength and is one of the most reliable tropical woods for extreme stresses.

Properties & technical performance

Bilinga is a heavy hardwood with high compressive strength, bending strength and abrasion resistance. Depending on the moisture content, the density is between 0.67 and 0.83 g/cm³. Its interlocked grain not only gives it a lively appearance, but also ensures robust material properties. The shrinkage values are moderate, making the wood in outdoor areas achieves good dimensional stability. The natural durability against fungi, insects and termites is extremely high – ideal for virtually maintenance-free applications.

Wood image, color & surface

The sapwood of Bilinga is light yellow to orange-grey, while the heartwood is a striking yellow to golden orange. Under UV light, it darkens to a warm brown tone. A characteristic feature is the regularly interwoven structure, which creates attractive striped patterns when cut in certain ways. The surface appears dense, even and very robust, which makes Bilinga interesting for both decorative and functional applications.

Processing & typical use

Despite its hardness, Bilinga is easy to work with when using carbide tools. The pronounced grain pattern requires a careful approach when sawing and planing. Screw and nail joints should always be pre-drilled. Due to its exceptional durability, Bilinga is mainly used outdoors: for bridge beams, hydraulic engineering, terraces, sleepers, port facilities, industrial floors or heavily loaded structures. Indoors it is used as parquetstairs, furniture wood or veneer – preferably rift-cut for a calmer appearance.

Sources: Tropix, GD-Holz ,