Purpleheart Species Details   (Back to Species List)

Detailed information pertaining to Purpleheart (Peltogyne, spp) is detailed below:

Specie Names

Lumber Name(s): Purpleheart.

Grown in: Throughout Central & South America.

Description

Purpleheart is one of the world's most unique woods in that it is truly purple and a bold purple color at that ! Very dense and with fine graining, it is used for its purple color.

Color Range and Color Change

Color Range: Purpleheart offers a medium range of color variability, which is mostly related to its aging process.

Color Change: Purpleheart undergoes an extreme degree of color change over time. When freshly milled or sanded, Purpleheart will be a brown color, which will change within a few days to a vivid purple color. Then over time (after six months) the vivid purple will oxidize back to a brownish color with purplish highlights. Water-based finishes tend to inhibit the full color change and hold more of the purple color.

Where to Use

Purpleheart may be used both residentially and commercially. It is widely used in accent strips and in settings requiring a bold color.

Special Characteristics and Issues

Allergic Reactions: Purpleheart has been known to cause both contact dermatitis and respiratory allergic reactions so care must be taken when coming into contact with Purpleheart sawdust.

Product availability

This species is currently not available in any collections.

Hardness Chart

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