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Purpleheart

Peltogyne spp.

Also known as: Amaranth, Pau Roxo, Purple Wood

Technical Spec Sheet

2026-07-14

Purpleheart wood grain

Reference grain swatch

Janka Hardness
2,520 lbf (11,210 N)
Avg. Dried Weight
880 kg/m³ (55 lb/ft³)
Specific Gravity
0.84
Type
Hardwood
Grain
Usually straight, sometimes irregular or wavy
Texture
Fine to medium
Durability
Very durable; highly resistant to decay and insects
Region
South America, Central America
Sustainability
Caution — Varies by species - some Peltogyne species are threatened; check CITES and source

Overview

Purpleheart is a striking tropical hardwood from Central and South America, famous for its vivid purple heartwood. Extremely hard and durable, it is used for flooring, turnery, inlays, and specialty items. The purple color gradually darkens to brown with exposure to light.

Heartwood is purple to violet when freshly cut, darkening to brownish-purple with age and light exposure. Sapwood is pale purple. Density averages 880 kg/m³ with a Janka hardness of 2,520 lbf. Fine to medium texture with usually straight grain. Very low shrinkage.

Workshop Notes

Blunting Effect

High - very hard wood dulls tools quickly

Gluing

Good with proper preparation

Finishing

Excellent - takes oil and finish well; UV can darken color

Steam Bending

Poor - very stiff

Scent

Mild when worked

Assessment

Strengths

  • Striking purple color
  • Very hard and durable
  • Excellent for turnery
  • Resists wear

Weaknesses

  • Blunts tools quickly
  • Can burn when machining
  • Color fades to brown over time
  • Dense

Common Uses

Turnery · Inlays · Flooring · Furniture · Tool handles · Musical instruments · Decorative objects