Peroba Rosa
Scientific name: Aspidosperma polyneuron
Overview
Peroba Rosa is a historic South American hardwood widely used in Brazil for furniture, flooring, and architectural millwork. Valued for its strength, stability, and warm coloration, it has long been associated with traditional craftsmanship and durable interior construction.
Often encountered in older buildings and reclaimed material, Peroba Rosa is appreciated today for both its working properties and its heritage value.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Peroba Rosa
- Scientific Name: Aspidosperma polyneuron
- Region: South American Hardwoods (Brazil and surrounding regions)
- Tree Size: 60–100 ft tall, 2–4 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 42 lbs/ft³ (675 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 1,480 lbf
- Color: Pinkish brown to reddish brown, often with darker streaks
- Grain: Straight to slightly interlocked
- Texture: Medium
Identification Characteristics
Peroba Rosa is identified by its warm pinkish to reddish-brown heartwood and relatively fine texture. The grain is typically straight, though mild interlock may be present. Color deepens over time, especially in older or reclaimed stock.
Sapwood is lighter in color and usually well defined from the heartwood.
Key identification traits include:
- Pinkish to reddish-brown heartwood
- Fine to medium texture
- Straight to slightly interlocked grain
- Moderate weight and balanced feel
Working Properties
Peroba Rosa is generally considered pleasant to work and well suited for a range of woodworking applications.
- Machines and hand-tools well
- Mild interlocked grain may cause light tear-out
- Sands smoothly
- Glues reliably
- Finishes evenly
Its stability and workability make it suitable for furniture and interior joinery.
Safety Note
Dust from Peroba Rosa may cause skin or respiratory irritation in some individuals. Proper dust collection, eye protection, and respiratory protection are recommended during machining and sanding.
Common Uses
Peroba Rosa has traditionally been used in a variety of interior applications, including:
- Furniture and cabinetry
- Flooring
- Doors and window frames
- Interior millwork and trim
- Architectural components
It is especially valued in restoration and heritage projects.
Sustainability & Notes
Peroba Rosa is not currently listed under CITES restrictions, but availability has declined due to historical overharvesting. Much of the material available today is reclaimed or sourced from managed forests.
Responsible sourcing is strongly encouraged, particularly when working with newly harvested material.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Jatoba – A dense South American hardwood commonly used for flooring and furniture, typically darker and harder than Peroba Rosa.
Garapa – A lighter-colored tropical hardwood used in decking and outdoor construction, generally more uniform in color.
Tatajuba – A durable hardwood with yellow to golden tones, often used in exterior applications and furniture.
Related Guides
How to Identify Exotic Hardwood by Grain Pattern
Studying grain texture and color variation helps distinguish South American hardwoods used in furniture and construction.
Density & Hardness Explained (Janka Scale Guide)
Understanding hardness ratings helps explain the durability and working properties of hardwood species.
Drying & Acclimating Exotic Woods
Proper drying and acclimation help maintain stability and reduce movement in hardwood lumber.
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
Peroba Rosa is appreciated by collectors for its historical significance and stable working characteristics. Reclaimed boards from older structures are especially valued for their aged color, seasoning, and dimensional stability.
Collectors often seek straight-grained material with even coloration for furniture and restoration work. Proper storage helps preserve surface quality, especially in older stock.
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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.
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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.
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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
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