Ambrosia Maple is typically a soft maple tree that has been invested with a beetle. The beetle bores a small hole in the wood, bringing with it a fungus that gives the maple a unique color. Ambrosia Maple wood can have a typical white, maple background with lots of grey streaks, left by the ambrosia beetle.

Ambrosia Maple boards can also have lots of pink and red heartwood colors. Kiln drying this type of wood kills all further bug activity and makes it a unique multi-colored hardwood that is very desirable, especially in super figured species.