Cerejeira
Scientific name: Amburana cearensis
Overview
Cerejeira is one of South America’s most attractive and aromatic hardwoods. Native primarily to Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina, the species is highly regarded for its warm golden-brown coloration, pleasant fragrance, excellent workability, and decorative appearance. Despite its common name, Cerejeira is not related to true cherry species, though its color and woodworking qualities have contributed to the comparison.
The wood is widely used in fine furniture, cabinetry, interior millwork, musical instruments, and specialty woodworking projects. Its combination of beauty, stability, and ease of machining has made Cerejeira a favorite among woodworkers throughout South America.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Cerejeira
- Scientific Name: Amburana cearensis
- Region: South American Hardwoods
- Tree Size: 50–100 ft tall, 2–4 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 40 lbs/ft³
- Janka Hardness: 960 lbf
- Color: Golden brown to reddish brown
- Grain: Straight to slightly interlocked
- Texture: Fine to medium
Identification Characteristics
Cerejeira is known for its warm coloration, attractive grain, and distinctive sweet aroma. The wood often develops a rich appearance that becomes more pronounced with age and finishing.
Key identification traits include:
- Golden brown to reddish-brown heartwood
- Pleasant aromatic scent
- Fine to medium texture
- Straight to slightly interlocked grain
- Moderate natural luster
- Uniform appearance with occasional figure
Working Properties
Cerejeira is generally considered an excellent woodworking species and is favored for both hand-tool and machine-tool operations. Its favorable working characteristics make it suitable for both fine woodworking and commercial manufacturing.
- Machines easily
- Sands smoothly
- Turns well
- Glues effectively
- Finishes exceptionally well
- Good dimensional stability
Safety Note
Some individuals may experience mild irritation from wood dust. Standard dust collection and respiratory protection are recommended when machining or sanding the wood.
Common Uses
Cerejeira is widely used in decorative and interior woodworking applications.
- Fine furniture
- Cabinetry
- Interior millwork
- Doors and trim
- Musical instruments
- Veneer
- Turned objects
- Decorative boxes
- Architectural woodworking
- Specialty woodworking projects
Sustainability & Notes
Cerejeira has long been valued throughout South America for both its appearance and workability. The species is particularly well known for its fragrant wood, which distinguishes it from many other tropical hardwoods.
Because of its attractive appearance and desirable woodworking properties, responsible sourcing and sustainable forest management remain important considerations for the species.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Morado (Bolivian Rosewood) – Another highly regarded South American hardwood prized for its beauty, stability, and furniture-making qualities.
Cedrinho – A versatile woodworking species commonly used for cabinetry, millwork, and interior applications.
Canela – A warm-toned South American hardwood valued for its workability and general woodworking uses.
Related Guides
Best Woods for Furniture Making – Explore the characteristics that make certain hardwoods ideal for furniture, cabinetry, and decorative woodworking projects.
Finishing Oils vs Polyurethane on Exotic Species – Learn how different finishes affect appearance, protection, and long-term performance on decorative tropical hardwoods.
Color Changes in Tropical Hardwoods Over Time – Discover how exposure to light and age can influence the color and appearance of tropical wood 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
Cerejeira is a desirable collector species because it combines attractive coloration, pleasant fragrance, and excellent woodworking properties. Samples are often sought by collectors interested in decorative South American hardwoods and provide an excellent contrast to denser species such as Ipe, Greenheart, and Nato. Its aromatic nature and warm appearance make it a standout addition to any collection.
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.
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