The capacities of 24 decay fungi, isolated from living trees and decayed timber of the East African camphor tree, to colonise sapwood and heartwood of living trees was tested. Eight species colonised sapwood, and five colonised heartwood and were viable 12 months after inoculation. It was noteworthy that eight important decay species of the East African camphor timber, including Phellinus senex, which is the dominant heartrot species, failed to invade tissues of living trees. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the water content and pH of infected and non-infected tissues as well as some parameters of growth of colonised trees.