Purpleheart - Peltogyne, spp

Species Information / Purpleheart

The Species:

Flooring Trade Name: Purpleheart
Botanical Name: Peltogyne, spp
Lumber Name: Purpleheart
Grows In: Throughout Central & South America

Products Available in Purpleheart

See page below for a listing of all the products available in this specie: Products / Purpleheart

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 & Color Change:

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

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 ( 6 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.

View WFI's Color Properties Chart below to compare this specie with other species: WFI's Color Properties Chart

View WFI's Purpleheart Photo Page for photos of the typical color range & change to be expected: Purpleheart Photo Page

Hardness:

Purpleheart is 165% as hard as red oak ( 2090 on the Janka scale vs. 1260 for red oak )

For hardness comparisons to additional species, please go to: WFI's Species Hardness

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 / Issues Specific to this Species:

Stability: Purpleheart is very stable, superior to Red Oak. For additional information, see:
WFI's Wood Properties Chart on the WFI Downloads page.
Finish Issues: (for site sanding/finishing only) - none known at this time, see:
WFI's Finish Recommendations on the WFI Downloads page before commencing any site finishing.
Safety/Allergic Reaction Issues: 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. Also, wood dust in general can be a hazard - see: WFI's Material Safety on the WFI Downloads page for safety issues with wood dust.
Other Characteristics/Issues specific to this species: none known at this time - see Feedback / Purpleheart on the WFI Site Map to see what others have experienced with this species.

Technical Information:

Note:

Additional Technical Information on this species can be accessed from the links below:
U.S. Forest Products Laboratory - Purpleheart Only
U.S. Forest Products Laboratory - to access all species