If you wish to work with purple heart, expect to pay upwards of $14 per board foot. Harvesting in the rainforests is highly regulated, and transporting over such a long distance contributes to its high price. While none of the 23 varieties of the species are on the endangered list, the harvesting of purple heart, teak, and mahogany does contribute to the destruction of those forests.Īlthough purple heart wood is available in the US, it is expensive. They grow in the endangered rainforests of Central and South America. Purple heart trees are large, often growing as tall as 160 feet and with a diameter of up to 5 feet. Cedar would seem the more appropriate choice. However, it’s an exotic wood and expensive, and since all wood eventually succumbs to the elements and would require ongoing care, it would seem such a waste to use it for any outdoor use. It is also water-resistant, and you will see it used sometimes as decking on more upscale boats. It is resistant to decay and insect attacks. Woodworking hobbyists use purple heart wood in the making of bowls and jewelry boxes. It is a favorite in turnery, cabinetry, flooring (as mentioned earlier), and furniture. It’s an extremely strong and durable wood and prized especially for its use in fine inlay work on musical instruments. The characteristics that set it apart from other exotic woods are its striking grain pattern and a unique color rarely found in other woods from which its name is derived. It grows natively in the countries between Mexico and Brazil.

Maybe you’ve seen it used in flooring, a dark, eggplant shade, as an accent wood alongside a lighter color grain. We all have seen, at least, furniture from each of these woods and perhaps even worked with one or more of them in our woodworking shop.Īmaranth, more commonly known as purple heart (sometimes written as one-word purpleheart), among exotic woods, is a particularly beautiful wood. The grain of red oak, the warmth of Brazilian mahogany, the endurance of teak, and the richness of sugar maple all come to mind.

Tree purple heart