Wood Species Greenheart

Greenheart

South America
Hardwood
Very durable

Greenheart (Chlorocardium rodiei) is an extremely dense and durable tropical hardwood native to northern South America, particularly Guyana and Suriname. It typically ranges in colour from olive green to dark brownish-green, sometimes deepening with exposure to light and air. The grain is usually straight to slightly interlocked with a fine to medium texture. Greenheart is exceptionally strong, heavy and hard, with outstanding resistance to decay, fungi, marine borers and insect attack. However, its very high density makes it difficult to machine and can cause rapid wear on tools.

In the timber industry, Greenheart is primarily used for heavy-duty structural and marine applications where extreme durability is essential. It is widely specified for harbour works, piers, jetties, seawalls, bridge construction and piling, as well as industrial flooring and railway sleepers. Its long service life in harsh, wet and saltwater environments makes it a premium choice for civil engineering and coastal infrastructure projects where untreated timber performance is required.

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