Hardwood Tree Patches in OSRS: A Complete Guide to Farming Mahogany and Teak
Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers players a rich variety of skills to master, and Farming is one of the most rewarding yet time-intensive among them. For those looking to level up their Farming skill efficiently while gathering valuable resources, hardwood tree patches are a hidden gem. Unlike regular or fruit tree patches, hardwood trees like mahogany and teak provide substantial experience and logs that are in demand for Woodcutting and Construction training. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into everything you need to know about hardwood tree patches in OSRS, from their locations to planting strategies, costs, and benefits. Whether you’re a beginner farmer or a seasoned player aiming for 99 Farming, this blog post has you covered.
Hardwood tree patches are specialized Farming patches in OSRS designed exclusively for growing mahogany and teak trees. Introduced with the Fossil Island update, these patches cater to players who’ve unlocked mid-to-high-level Farming and want to diversify their tree runs. Unlike regular trees (e.g., oak or willow) or fruit trees (e.g., apple or papaya), hardwood trees offer a unique blend of decent Farming XP and valuable hardwood logs, making them a dual-purpose investment.
Types of Hardwood Trees
OSRS features two types of hardwood trees you can plant in these patches:
- Teak Trees: Unlocked at level 35 Farming, teak trees yield teak logs, which are useful for Construction and Firemaking.
- Mahogany Trees: Available at level 55 Farming, mahogany trees produce mahogany logs, highly sought after for high-level Construction projects.
Why Choose Hardwood Trees?
Hardwood trees stand out for several reasons:
- Experience Boost: They provide significant Farming XP—7,290 for teak and 15,720 for mahogany when fully grown and harvested.
- Resource Value: The logs are tradeable and fetch decent prices on the Grand Exchange.
- Low Competition: Compared to fruit tree runs or herb runs, hardwood patches are less commonly utilized, making them a niche but effective training method.
Where to Find Hardwood Tree Patches in OSRS
All hardwood tree patches in OSRS are located on Fossil Island, a unique area unlocked after completing the Bone Voyage quest. This quest requires 100 Kudos with the Varrock Museum and access to the Digsite, so plan accordingly if you haven’t explored this region yet. Once on Fossil Island, head to the Mushroom Forest area, where you’ll find the three hardwood patches.
Location Details
The three hardwood tree patches are clustered together in the Mushroom Forest, northwest of the Fossil Island Volcano. Here’s how to get there:
- Teleport Method: Use a Digsite Pendant to teleport to the Digsite, then take the barge to Fossil Island. From there, use the Magic Mushtree network to reach the Mushroom Meadow and run southeast to the patches.
- Alternative Route: If you’ve unlocked the Fossil Island teleport via the Mycelium Transport System, it’s even faster.
Nearby Features
The patches are conveniently located near a bank chest in the Mushroom Meadow and a squirrel farmer named Squirrels, who can watch over your trees for a fee. This setup makes hardwood runs quick and efficient, especially when paired with other Fossil Island activities like birdhouse runs.
How to Plant and Grow Hardwood Trees
Growing hardwood trees follows the standard OSRS Farming process but with a few specific requirements. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:
Requirements and Tools
- Farming Levels: 35 for teak, 55 for mahogany.
- Seeds: Teak seeds or mahogany seeds, obtainable from bird nests, monster drops, or the Grand Exchange.
- Tools: Spade, gardening trowel, watering can, rake (for initial clearing), and plant pots.
- Optional: Compost (ultracompost recommended) and payment items for protection (limpwurt roots for teak, yanillian hops for mahogany).
Step-by-Step Planting Process
- Prepare the Sapling: Fill an empty plant pot with soil using a gardening trowel, add a teak or mahogany seed, and water it with a watering can. Wait a few minutes for it to grow into a sapling.
- Clear the Patch: Use a rake to clear weeds from the hardwood patch if it’s your first time planting there.
- Plant the Sapling: With a spade in your inventory, plant the sapling in the patch.
- Protect the Tree (Optional): Pay Squirrels 15 limpwurt roots for teak or 25 yanillian hops for mahogany to ensure the tree doesn’t die from disease.
- Wait and Harvest: Teak trees take 64 hours (2 days, 16 hours), and mahogany trees take 85 hours (3 days, 13 hours) to grow. Once grown, chop them down with an axe to collect logs and dig up the stump with a spade.
Tips for Efficiency
- Ultracompost: If you skip the protection payment, use ultracompost to reduce disease risk significantly.
- Batch Planting: Plant all three patches at once to maximize XP and logs per trip.
- Timing: Check back every 2-3 days to align with growth cycles, pairing it with other Farming runs.
Costs, Experience, and Profit Analysis
Hardwood tree farming can be both a cost-effective training method and a small money-maker, depending on how you approach it. Let’s break it down with current Grand Exchange prices (as of April 2025) and XP rates.
Cost Breakdown
| Tree Type | Seed Cost | Protection Cost | Total Cost (w/ Protection) | XP Gained | Cost per XP (No Protection) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teak | ~50 gp | 15 limpwurt roots (~1,500 gp) | ~1,550 gp | 7,290 | ~0.12 gp/XP |
| Mahogany | ~2,000 gp | 25 yanillian hops (~2,500 gp) | ~4,500 gp | 15,720 | ~0.19 gp/XP |
Note: Prices fluctuate; check the Grand Exchange for real-time values.
Profit Potential
- Teak Logs: Yield around 30-50 logs per tree, averaging 300 gp each. At 40 logs, that’s 12,000 gp, netting ~10,450 gp profit with protection.
- Mahogany Logs: Yield 50-70 logs, averaging 400 gp each. At 60 logs, that’s 24,000 gp, netting ~19,500 gp profit with protection.
Without protection and using ultracompost (~500 gp), profits increase, but there’s a small risk of losing the tree to disease.
Experience Efficiency
Planting three mahogany trees twice a week yields 94,320 XP (3 x 15,720 x 2), while teak offers 43,740 XP (3 x 7,290 x 2). Combining this with daily fruit tree runs and weekly special trees like calquat can push your weekly Farming XP to 350,000+ with minimal effort.
Strategies to Maximize Hardwood Tree Runs
To get the most out of hardwood tree patches, integrate them into your broader Farming routine and optimize your setup. Here are some pro tips:
Combine with Other Runs
Fossil Island is a Farming hotspot. Pair hardwood runs with:
- Birdhouse Runs: Set up birdhouses while waiting for saplings to grow.
- Seaweed Farming: Plant giant seaweed spores in the underwater patches nearby.
Teleport Optimization
Minimize travel time with these teleport options:
- Digsite Pendant: Quick access to Fossil Island via the barge.
- House Teleport: If your house is on Fossil Island (requires 50 Construction), use a redirected tablet.
- Magic Mushtree: Unlock the network for instant patch access.
Long-Term Planning
For players aiming for 99 Farming:
- Start Early: Begin teak at 35 to build XP momentum.
- Scale Up: Switch to mahogany at 55 and maintain three patches consistently.
- Supplement: Use herb runs to offset costs and boost overall XP.
Hardwood tree patches in OSRS are an underrated yet powerful tool for Farming training and resource gathering. With just a few minutes every couple of days, you can rack up impressive XP and turn a profit with teak and mahogany logs. Unlock Fossil Island, grab your seeds, and start planting today—your Farming cape is closer than you think!