Breadfruit
Scientific name: Artocarpus altilis
Overview
Breadfruit is a fast-growing tropical hardwood best known for its edible fruit, but it also produces a lightweight, workable wood widely used throughout the Caribbean and Pacific regions. While not a high-density hardwood, it is valued for its stability, ease of use, and resistance to insect attack in certain environments. It has historically been used in everything from canoes to furniture and general construction.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Breadfruit
- Scientific Name: Artocarpus altilis
- Region: Caribbean & West Indies Hardwoods
- Tree Size: 40–85 ft tall, 2–3 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: ~31 lbs/ft³
- Janka Hardness: ~540 lbf
- Color: Pale yellow to golden brown
- Grain: Straight to slightly interlocked
- Texture: Medium to coarse
Identification Characteristics
Breadfruit wood is typically light in color with a somewhat coarse texture and a straight to slightly interlocked grain. It lacks dramatic figure but is recognizable by its uniform appearance and relatively lightweight feel.
Key identification traits include:
- Pale yellow to light brown coloration
- Moderate to coarse texture
- Straight or slightly interlocked grain
- Lightweight compared to most tropical hardwoods
Working Properties
Breadfruit is easy to work with both hand and machine tools, making it a practical choice for a wide range of applications where extreme strength is not required.
- Easy to cut and shape
- Good for carving and hand tools
- Gluing and finishing properties are good
- Can be prone to denting due to lower density
Safety Note
No commonly reported adverse health effects, though standard dust protection is recommended when machining.
Common Uses
Breadfruit is used in a variety of practical and traditional applications where lightweight and workability are important.
- Furniture
- Interior construction
- Carving and craft work
- Canoes and small boats
- Light structural uses
Sustainability & Notes
Breadfruit is widely cultivated for its fruit, making the wood a secondary but sustainable byproduct in many regions. Its fast growth rate and widespread planting contribute to its availability and reduce pressure on slower-growing hardwood species.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Caribbean Pine – Similar lightweight characteristics but with a softer, more resinous structure.
Spanish Cedar – Comparable in weight and workability, but with a more aromatic scent and better natural insect resistance.
Ceiba – Another lightweight tropical wood, though significantly softer and less durable.
Related Guides
Understanding Wood Density & Hardness (Janka Scale Guide) – Helps explain where Breadfruit falls among lighter tropical hardwoods.
How to Identify Wood by Grain Pattern – Useful for distinguishing Breadfruit from other light-colored species.
Wood Color Changes Over Time – Covers how lighter woods like Breadfruit may darken slightly with age.
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
Breadfruit is not typically considered a premium collector wood, but it is an important species from a cultural and regional perspective. Samples are valued more for representation of tropical utility woods rather than rarity or figure. It fits well in a balanced collection showcasing a range of densities and uses.
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.
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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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