Buttonwood
Scientific name: Conocarpus erectus
Overview
Buttonwood is a coastal Caribbean hardwood known for its durability and resilience in harsh marine environments. Growing naturally along shorelines and mangrove edges, it develops dense, often irregularly figured wood due to exposure to wind and salt.
While not commonly exported as a large commercial lumber species, Buttonwood is valued locally for specialty woodworking, turning, and small structural applications. Its unique growth conditions often produce interesting grain character and compact density.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Buttonwood
- Scientific Name: Conocarpus erectus
- Region: Caribbean & West Indies Hardwoods (Florida, Caribbean, coastal Central America)
- Tree Size: 100–150 ft tall, 3–5 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 55 lbs/ft³ (880 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 2,300 lbf
- Color: Reddish brown to dark brown with darker streaks
- Grain: Often interlocked
- Texture: Medium to fine with a natural luster
Identification Characteristics
Heartwood ranges from light brown to medium brown, sometimes with olive undertones. The grain is frequently irregular due to wind exposure and coastal growth patterns. Texture is fine to medium, and the wood is moderately heavy in hand.
Key identification traits include:
- Light to medium brown coloration
- Coastal-grown density
- Often irregular or interlocked grain
- Moderate natural luster
- Compact growth structure
Working Properties
Buttonwood machines moderately well but can present challenges when grain is interlocked.
- Turns well
- Sands to a smooth finish
- May require sharp tools to avoid tear-out
- Glues adequately
- Finishes evenly
Because of its density and environmental exposure, small checks or irregular grain patterns may be present.
Safety Note
Standard hardwood dust precautions recommended. As with many tropical hardwoods, prolonged exposure to fine dust may cause irritation.
Common Uses
Buttonwood common uses including:
- Turned bowls and small vessels
- Tool handles
- Walking sticks
- Small boxes
- Decorative items
- Local marine applications
Sustainability & Notes
Buttonwood is typically harvested locally rather than exported commercially in volume. It is often sourced from storm-fallen or selectively cut coastal trees.
Availability is generally limited to smaller stock sizes.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
West Indian Satinwood – Lighter and more vibrant in tone.
Masticwood – Generally more uniform and less irregular in grain.
Lignum Vitae – Much denser and darker.
Related Guides
How to Identify Exotic Hardwood by Grain Pattern
Helpful for distinguishing irregular tropical grain structures.
Density & Hardness Explained (Janka Scale Guide)
Places Buttonwood in the mid-to-high density tropical range.
Building a Documented Wood Collection
Important for cataloging coastal Caribbean species.
Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
Buttonwood is most commonly encountered in smaller turning blanks rather than wide dimensional boards. When cataloging, note the grain irregularity, medium brown coloration, and coastal origin. Pieces displaying interesting figure caused by wind growth or environmental stress are particularly desirable. Documented Caribbean coastal provenance strengthens collector value.
Share Your Photos of This Species
Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?
Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.
When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.
Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
Love This Species?
Enjoy learning about this wood species?
Help support the continued growth of Exotic Woods of the World by participating in our Adopt a Species program. Your support helps fund species research, educational content, photography, videos, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Support Forest Conservation
This species is part of the growing Exotic Woods of the World reference archive, dedicated to documenting and preserving knowledge of the world’s wood species.
Through the Adopt a Species program, visitors can help support ongoing species research, educational content, photography, video production, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Contributions help fund the continued expansion of this archive while promoting sustainable forestry education and the long-term appreciation of the world’s forests.
Interested in supporting this species? Visit our Adopt a Species and Conservation Partners pages to learn more.
Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Related Tools & Products:
• Woodworking: The Complete Step-by-Step Manual for learning woodworking techniques, joinery, finishing, and step-by-step projects
https://amzn.to/4v1EYSZ
• Woodworking Apron for Men with 9 Tool Pockets for keeping tools organized and protecting clothing during woodworking, carving, turning, and shop work
https://amzn.to/43SZ9rt
• XFasten Double-Sided Woodworking Tape (3-Pack) for securing templates, workpieces, and patterns during routing, CNC work, edge banding, and other woodworking tasks
https://amzn.to/4xK5yTj
Share This Wood Species
Stay Connected
Follow the latest species additions, educational resources, videos, conservation initiatives, and major project milestones through our Site Updates archive.
The Site Updates archive provides a permanent record of new content, library growth, and future developments across Exotic Woods of the World.