The Best Areas to Search for Burl Wood

Types of Trees

• Burls can occur on any type of tree, but there are some that rarely produce burls, such as pecan. The reason may be because the tree is a hardy type, not susceptible to insect or disease damage, which can cause burl formation. Maple, walnut and birch are some of the common trees with burl. Redwood can produce huge burls, and apple trees are a common source. Burls are mainly produced on mature trees, most often on the trunk or in the root system. Other typical trees that show burls are oak, sycamore, spruce and myrtle.

Causes

• Insect infestation and disease such as fungus or mold are thought to be common causes of burls. Genetic traits can also be an attribute that makes trees susceptible to forming a burl, and often a group of trees cast from the same seed field may produce a large number of burls. This can be both because the genetics of the tree create a tendency towards the abnormal formation, or that insects and disease also attack the same group of trees. Injury to trees have been known to cause burls, as the tree growth around the damaged portion becomes malformed.

What to Look For

• Large or small outgrowths resembling large gnarly bumps or protrusions on the tree trunk are burls, sometimes in a ring surrounding the entire tree, or just protruding from the side of the tree. They usually form on the trunk and can be formed high up, or in the crotch of limbs. Check any protrusions from the root area as burls are common there. The root burls are often called gall and may be visible in trees that have been uprooted by storms or dead fall trees. A burl is covered with bark like the rest of the tree but the bark, like the burl, can be deformed and abnormal in pattern. Look for any knobby protrusions from a tree and see if it fits the description of a burl.

Where to Look

• Old orchards where trees were continuously bumped or trimmed by machinery often produce burls. Insects and disease are common in these settings as well so check nearby abandoned orchards or fruit tree groves. Large forest areas with stands of similar trees like an oak grove are also good places to look. If you find one burl, check all the surrounding trees. Forests where heavy insect infestation, disease or fire have struck are excellent places to search. Near sewage ditches that drain through forested areas can often be good producers of burl trees, as there are environmental triggers such as pollution, disease or damage that can result.