Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionGreenheart Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Greenheart is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameChlorocardium rodiei
Janka hardness2,530 lbf
Average dried weight63 lb/ft³
Best fitBoatbuilding
Overview
Why choose Greenheart?
Greenheart is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Northeastern South America (primarily Guyana and Suriname). It is useful when the project calls for boatbuilding, docks, decking, posts, fishing rods, pool cues, and other turned wood items
For SEO and customer usefulness, this page separates the science from the buying decision: appearance, working behaviour, durability, project fit, and then the right Kingma shopping path.
Scientific nameChlorocardium rodiei
DistributionNortheastern South America (primarily Guyana and Suriname)
ShrinkageRadial: 8.2%, Tangential: 8.9%, Volumetric: 16.5%, T/R Ratio: 1.1 More images | Identification
DurabilityGreenheart is rated as very durable, with excellent insect/borer resistance.
Greenheart colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood can be highly variable in color, and is sometimes sold sorted into color categories of black, brown, yellow, and white—though there doesn’t seem to be any difference in strength or physical properties between the different colors. Generally the heartwood tends to be a pale brown to olive green color, sometimes with darker streaks.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain tends to be straight to interlocked, with a fine to medium grain and good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, generally somewhat difficult to work on account of its density, with a moderate to high blunting effect on cutters. Sections with interlocked grain should be machined with care to avoid grain tearout.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Greenheart has been reported as a sensitizer .
Greenheart should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Greenheart
Best projects
Boatbuilding, docks, decking, posts, fishing rods, pool cues, and other turned wood items
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Greenheart from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Live edge slabs
Use when the customer cares more about slab format and visual impact than this exact species.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Greenheart FAQ
What is Greenheart best used for?
Greenheart is best considered for boatbuilding, docks, decking, posts, fishing rods, pool cues, and other turned wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Greenheart beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Greenheart?
Use the buying section on this page. If an exact product is not listed, the linked alternatives are included only when they make practical sense for colour, grain, or project use.