Greenheart is a highly sought after wood only grown in the northeastern part of South America. Guyana is in the heart of this location and produces most of the world’s Greenheart. The prized wood is heavily regulated by the Guyana Forestry Commission where every tree must meet certain specifications before being cut. Once harvested, the trees are tagged and tracked through the manufacturing process all the way through delivery to the consumer. These practices prevent undersized trees from being cut and essentially keep the forest from being depleted of these wonderful natural resources. It makes the work harder, but the results are the preservation of millions of acres of rainforest for future generations.
Greenheart is known scientifically as Chlorocardium rodiei. The heartwood color tends to be light olive to brown in color, with darker streaks. It weathers naturally over time to a beautiful silver-grey patina.
One of the most amazing attributes of tropical hardwood (especially greenheart), is its resistance to decay and unwanted pests. Marine borers, termites and other wood-eating insects avoid attacking Greenheart because of its hardness and naturally produced oils. The dense properties of tropical hardwood also help increase the longevity of the wood. Greenheart has been known to last more than 100 years in some applications, but it is safe to expect that it will last 50 years under almost all circumstances.
Greenheart tropical hardwood is so dense that even though it’s untreated, the wood has a “Class A” fire rating, making it almost as fire resistant as concrete or metal. This kind of fire rating gives consumers added peace of mind when using the wood in their special projects.
Benefits of Greenheart:
- Untreated and 100% natural
- Resistant to marine organisms
- Extreme strength values – 3 to 5 times stronger than species domestic to the USA
- Resistant to fire
Mechanical Properties: (First set of data based on the 2-cm standard; second on the 2-in. standard)
| Moisture Content (%) |
Bending Strength (psi) |
Modules of Elasticity (1000 psi) |
Maximum Crushing Strength (psi) |
| Green (42) 12% Green (40) 12% |
20,300 26,200 20,900 25,500 |
2,310 3,040 3,040 3,700 |
9,770 13,040 10,690 13,040 |
Chundnoff, Martin (1984), “Tropical Timbers of the World.” USDA Forest Service Ag. Handbook No.607.
Why Woods Direct? We put customer service first. We’re experts in the tropical hardwood business, but more importantly, we work diligently to fulfill your project needs with the best hardwood and service possible. We strive to use only the highest quality materials for our clients’ needs. With over 50 years of professional experience in the tropical hardwood market, Woods Direct has developed a reputation of having high integrity, with a focus on customer satisfaction and a commitment to excellence. Our professionals are standing by to assist you. Make us “Your Direct Source for Tropical Hardwood”.
