Greenheart

Greenheart is a highly prized tropical hardwood known for its deep greenish-brown heartwood that can darken with age, with straight to interlocked grain and a coarse texture, offering unmatched strength and longevity. Native to northern South America, particularly Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil, Greenheart is celebrated for its exceptional density, durability, and natural resistance to decay and marine conditions, making it ideal for demanding woodworking applications.

Its straight to interlocked grain allows Greenheart to machine, turn, and sand with care, producing a polished surface that showcases its rich, dark hues. Perfect for pen blanks, knife handles, turned objects, inlays, heavy-duty furniture accents, and specialty crafts, Greenheart combines extreme toughness with visual appeal.

Botanical Information

Scientific Name: Chlorocardium rodiei

Family: Lauraceae

Origin: Northern South America (Guyana, Suriname, Brazil)

Common & Trade Names

Greenheart, Guyana Greenheart, Chlorocardium, South American Greenheart

Key Characteristics

Heartwood: deep greenish-brown, darkens with age

Sapwood: narrow, pale, clearly defined

Grain: straight to interlocked

Texture: coarse, dense, extremely durable

Extremely dense and hard; stable

Natural luster when polished

Workability

Very dense and hard; requires sharp tools and care

Machines, sands, and turns with attention

Accepts oils and finishes well

Glues and polishes reliably

Ideal for small precision pieces or heavy-duty decorative projects

Health & Safety Note

Greenheart wood dust may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation. Use proper dust extraction, respirator, and eye protection when machining or sanding this extremely dense hardwood.

Greenheart wood, Chlorocardium rodiei, South American hardwood, exotic hardwood blanks, pen blank wood, knife handle wood, turning wood, decorative hardwood, artisan craft wood, dense hardwood