Morado (Bolivian Rosewood)
Scientific name: Machaerium scleroxylon
Overview
Morado often marketed as Bolivian Rosewood, is one of South America’s most attractive and sought-after hardwoods. Native primarily to Bolivia and parts of neighboring countries, Morado is prized for its rich coloration, natural luster, and excellent working properties. The wood typically displays shades of brown, violet, purple, and black streaking that create a distinctive appearance unlike many other tropical hardwoods.
Despite its common trade name, Morado is not a true rosewood of the Dalbergia genus. However, its appearance, density, and workability have made it a popular substitute in furniture making, cabinetry, flooring, and decorative woodworking applications.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Morado
- Scientific Name: Machaerium scleroxylon
- Region: South American Hardwoods
- Tree Size: 50–80 ft tall, 1–3 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 55 lbs/ft³
- Janka Hardness: 1,960 lbf
- Color: Brown, violet-brown, purple-brown, often with darker streaks
- Grain: Straight to interlocked
- Texture: Fine to medium
Identification Characteristics
Morado is best known for its striking coloration and attractive figure. Freshly surfaced wood often displays purple or violet tones that gradually darken with age.
Key identification traits include:
- Brown to violet-brown heartwood
- Dark streaking and contrasting grain patterns
- Fine to medium texture
- Moderate natural luster
- Straight to interlocked grain
- Color deepens and darkens over time
Working Properties
Morado is generally considered an excellent woodworking species that machines and finishes well. The wood’s combination of beauty and workability makes it popular among furniture makers and woodturners.
- Machines well with sharp tools
- Turns exceptionally well
- Sands to a smooth surface
- Glues and finishes well
- Good dimensional stability
- Interlocked grain may occasionally produce tear-out
Safety Note
Morado has been reported to cause allergic reactions or skin irritation in some individuals. Proper dust collection and respiratory protection are recommended when machining or sanding the wood.
Common Uses
Morado is frequently selected for decorative and high-end woodworking projects.
- Fine furniture
- Cabinetry
- Flooring
- Veneer
- Turned objects
- Musical instruments
- Decorative boxes
- Architectural millwork
- Knife scales
- Specialty woodworking projects
Sustainability & Notes
Morado is an important commercial hardwood in Bolivia and surrounding regions. It is often marketed as Bolivian Rosewood because of its appearance and performance characteristics, though it is botanically distinct from true rosewoods.
Its attractive appearance and relative availability have made it a popular alternative to more heavily regulated rosewood species.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Kingwood – Another highly prized purple-toned hardwood known for dramatic coloration and fine texture.
Pau Ferro – A dense South American hardwood often used as a rosewood substitute in furniture and musical instruments.
Brazilian Rosewood – One of the most famous decorative hardwoods in the world and a benchmark for comparison among rosewood-like species.
Related Guides
Rosewoods of the World – Explore the world’s most famous rosewood species and learn how woods such as Morado compare to traditional rosewoods.
Color Changes in Tropical Hardwoods Over Time – Discover how exposure to light and age can alter the appearance of tropical hardwoods, including species with purple and violet coloration.
Finishing Oils vs Polyurethane on Exotic Species – Learn how different finishes affect appearance, protection, and long-term color development in decorative hardwoods.
Bubinga vs. Rosewood
Explore Bubinga vs. Rosewood to compare these premium hardwoods in color, figure, density, workability, and use in furniture and musical instruments.
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
Morado is highly desirable among wood collectors because of its distinctive coloration and attractive grain patterns. Samples often display a remarkable range of tones from brown and gold to purple and nearly black streaking. It is frequently collected alongside Kingwood, Brazilian Rosewood, Pau Ferro, and other premium South American hardwoods that exhibit rosewood-like characteristics.
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Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
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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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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.
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