Unable to identify this wood

A little more information would be helpful such as what part of the country you are in and whether it is native to your area or a suburban “yard tree”.

-- Bondo Gaposis

North Carolina. It was a tree in their yard. The previous owners were from Italy and may have brought the tree with them, but we are unsure. There are no other similar trees in their yard. They thought it looked like a small willow tree, but it’s too hard to be willow.

Do you have any leaves? That is about as impossible to identify as it gets.

-- A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer.

No, it’s all been mulched. Shoot. Perhaps it’ll be easier to tell when I start turning it, but at the moment, it’s a complete mystery.

Do you or your in-laws happen to have any random pictures with the tree in the background that would show the leaves? Or I don’t suppose they remember if it had any flowers in the spring.

I have three cherry trees in my front yard, but none are that large nor is their bark the same… They produce a white flower each spring.

-- Brian Famous :: Charlotte, NC :: http://www.FamousArtisan.com

If it’s hard, and possibly came from Italy, and the leaves looked sort of like willow, maybe it’s an olive tree. Just a thought.

-- Bob, Missoula, MT -- Rocky Mountain Saw Works http://www.rmsaws.com/p/about-us.html -- ~Non multa sed multum~

If it s hard, and possibly came from Italy, and the leaves looked sort of like willow, maybe it s an olive tree. Just a thought.

- summerfi

That actually makes a lot of sense. It died, which any olive tree likely would in this climate. Given its color, density, and it’s somewhat gnarled appearance, olive seems a good guess.

How old is the home?

If an olive tree were to dies easily in that climate, how do you figure it made it 70 plus years? Really tough to tell from this image, but that is not a 15-year-old tree.

-- A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer.

Cold hardy olive trees.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/gardening-by-zone/zone-7/zone-7-olive-trees.htm

-- Bob, Missoula, MT -- Rocky Mountain Saw Works http://www.rmsaws.com/p/about-us.html -- ~Non multa sed multum~

Cold hardy olive trees.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/gardening-by-zone/zone-7/zone-7-olive-trees.htm

- summerfi

Cool.

OP – Can you rule out flowers, fruit, and olives? Those should have been unmissable.

-- A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer.

How old is the home?

If an olive tree were to dies easily in that climate, how do you figure it made it 70 plus years? Really tough to tell from this image, but that is not a 15-year-old tree.

- BroncoBrian

Yup, I may not have been able to identify this wood initially, but I’m actually not stupid.

It’s a multi-million dollar home. I’m fairly certain the previous owners – who appeared to attempt to recreate Italy in every way they could on their property – wouldn’t blink twice at paying for a full grown tree.

As for fruit, the tree has actually been dead for at least three years. So no fruit or flowers, hence a lack of “unmissable” signs, and my initial post.

https://www.arborday.org/trees/whattree/

-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/

No one was implying stupidity. Not enough info in the description. Just assumed your family had been there for a while and the tree finally died.

An older picture from the house is a great idea. Any chance the previous owners can be contacted?

The grain looks pretty from that rough cut. I’d be curious to see what you turn from it. How long does ti have to dry to turn?

-- A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer.

In the 2nd pic, in the bottom right hand corner, is that part of the tree? You can see a small section of trunk with knobby bark. If that section is part of the tree in question, I would say that it might be either persimmon or dogwood. Did the tree bear fruit?

-- Danny Located in Perry, GA. Forester. Wood-Mizer LT40HD35 Sawmill. Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln. hamsleyhardwood.com

My first guess was olive based on your comments. The lighter heart wood is a trait I’ve noticed with the olive I use.
Either way, the wood looks to be in good shape, open it up and see what is inside!