Is Mimosa Tree Timber A Good Choice For Firewood?

Any wood that’s dry enough will generally be able to catch light and burn. Yet that doesn’t mean it’s suitable for an indoor fireplace

And why is that? Well, because your home needs ‘clean’ burning firewood. Which means that firewood must not emit dangerous fumes or release chimney clogging soot.

Yet, how does Mimosa tree lumber stack up as a firewood choice for your home?

Well, in this post, we dive into what you should be looking for when it comes to fireplace fuel. You’ll also learn what makes mimosa tree timber a surprisingly good choice for your homes fireplace.

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Whats The Best Kind Of Firewood?

Good firewood needs to do more than simply catch light. If you are using this natural fuel source to heat your home, then you need to make sure that it fits the following simple criteria;

Firewood Must Be Dry

This is a simple one, but it is very important all the same. Firewood with a high moisture content is going to end up filling your home with a lot of smoke.

That’s because moisture will create excess vapor, fueling the amount of smoke emitted from that log.

Firewood Must Contain Very Little Sap Or Pitch

One of the biggest causes of chimney fires is backed up chimney flues. This happens when soot, lining the inside of the chimney, has become gummed up.

Now, if firewood contains a lot of sticky sap/pitch, it will add to that chimney blockage, making things worse.

Firewood Must Not Come From Poisonous Timber

Trees that have poisonous sap saturating their grain, should not be used as firewood. That sap will vaporize and turn into fumes. And those fumes are the last thing any home needs floating in the air.

Related Post: Can You Safely Burn Camphor Wood In A Fireplace?

OK, So What Are The Best Clean Burning Logs?

White Oak and Birch wood are two great choices for firewood. They are both dense hardwoods, so they will burn hot for a good long while.

But, more than that, they contain very little sap/pitch. And their lumber is not saturated with any dangerous toxins.

What About Mimosa Wood? Will It Burn Clean?

Yes it will. Provided you’ve given wood time to dry out, (also known as seasoning), it won’t bellow out smoke.

And the Mimosa tree, (aka the Albizia Julibrissin), doesn’t contain much sap or pitch either. Which makes it safe to burn in an indoor fireplace.

But I Thought The Mimosa Tree Was Toxic?

This trees lumber is not toxic. However, the seed pods of this tree are.

You see, the Mimosa pods are filled with paralyzing compounds called ‘neurotoxic alkaloids’. And when these pods are consumed by nearby grazing cattle, they can have a fatal effect on them.

Nonetheless, the Mimosa trees stem, bark, sapwood, and heartwood, do not contain these alkaloids.

What About Sap? I’ve Seen Mimosa Trees Produce A Lot Of It.

This particular tree species doesn’t contain excessive amounts of sap. Trees produce sap to protect themselves from intense bug attacks. But, if a Mimosa tree looks like it’s producing a lot of sap, it’s more likely to be ‘White Flux’.

White Flux is a tree fungi disease that causes the production of a slimy looking substance. However, it is not actual tree sap.

So, Does That Mean Mimosa Wood Is Suitable For An Indoor Fireplace?

Yes, it is. Although it doesn’t produce quite as much heat as White Oak or Birch wood.

Still, provided that you’ve given Mimosa lumber time to season and dry out, it will burn cleanly on any fire.

Related Post: How To Season Wood (7 Tips)

And How Long Does It Take For Mimosa Wood To Season?

It takes around 12 months to season this wood, although that depends on when the tree was logged.

But, in warmer climates — sheltered from rain and humidity — they can take as little as 6 months to season.

To Sum Up, Here Are The Three Main Takeaways From This Post…

1). Before you go throwing firewood onto a fireplace, make sure it is well seasoned and dry. This will reduce smoke emissions.
2). Firewood must not come from trees that have a lot of sap/pitch in them. Excess sap/pitch can cause chimney fires.
3). Mimosa trees produce clean burning firewood. However, White Oak and Birch will produce more heat than Mimosa timber.