Guanacaste

Guanacaste is a tropical hardwood prized for its golden to reddish-brown heartwood with stunning natural figure and dramatic grain patterns, offering both visual appeal and durability. Native to Central America, particularly Costa Rica, Guanacaste is celebrated for its lightweight strength, stability, and striking aesthetic, making it ideal for artisan woodworking and decorative projects.

Its straight to interlocked grain allows Guanacaste to machine, turn, and sand cleanly, producing a polished surface that highlights its vibrant color and natural character. Perfect for pen blanks, knife handles, turned objects, inlays, small furniture accents, and specialty crafts, Guanacaste combines beauty with functional performance.

Botanical Information

Scientific Name: Enterolobium cyclocarpum

Family: Fabaceae

Origin: Central America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama)

Common & Trade Names

Guanacaste, Elephant Ear Tree, Enterolobium, Oreja de Elefante (Spanish trade name)

Key Characteristics

Heartwood: golden to reddish-brown with dramatic figure

Sapwood: pale, clearly defined

Grain: straight to interlocked with natural patterns

Texture: medium to coarse, smooth when polished

Moderate density; stable and workable

Natural luster with vibrant color

Workability

Machines, sands, and turns easily with sharp tools

Accepts stains, oils, and finishes beautifully

Glues and polishes reliably

Ideal for small precision and decorative projects

Health & Safety Note

Guanacaste wood dust may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation. Use proper dust extraction, respirator, and eye protection when machining or sanding.

Guanacaste wood, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Central American hardwood, exotic hardwood blanks, pen blank wood, knife handle wood, turning wood, decorative hardwood, artisan craft wood