Ojoche
Scientific name: Brosimum alicastrum
Overview
Ojoche is a lesser-known Central American hardwood found from southern Mexico through Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It is often overshadowed by more commercial species but is valued locally for its workability and availability.
The wood is generally light to medium brown with a fairly uniform appearance, making it useful for interior applications where consistency is preferred over bold figure.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Ojoche
- Scientific Name: Brosimum alicastrum
- Region: Central American Hardwoods (Mexico to Nicaragua)
- Tree Size: 80–120 ft tall, 2–4 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: ~35–45 lbs/ft³ (560–720 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: ~900–1,200 lbf
- Color: Light brown to medium brown, sometimes with subtle yellow tones
- Grain: Straight to slightly interlocked
- Texture: Medium
Identification Characteristics
Ojoche is typically plain and uniform compared to more decorative tropical hardwoods.
Key identification traits include:
- Light to medium brown coloration
- Low contrast, uniform appearance
- Straight to slightly interlocked grain
- Medium texture
- Subtle, understated figure
Working Properties
Ojoche is generally easy to work and behaves predictably.
- Machines easily with minimal tear-out
- Sands to a smooth finish
- Accepts glues and finishes well
- Moderate dimensional stability
- Suitable for general woodworking
Safety Note
Wood dust may cause mild irritation. Standard protective measures are recommended.
Common Uses
Ojoche is commonly used for general interior and utility applications.
- Furniture
- Interior joinery
- Cabinetry
- Paneling
- General construction
Sustainability & Notes
Ojoche is widely distributed and often used locally. It is not commonly restricted, but responsible sourcing is still recommended.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Nispero
Typically denser and harder, with a slightly richer brown tone and more weight.
Palo Blanco
Generally lighter in color and softer, with a more uniform and less durable structure.
Santa Maria
More widely used commercially, often showing a slightly darker tone and greater durability.
Related Guides
How to Identify Exotic Hardwood by Grain Pattern
Useful for distinguishing more subtle woods like Ojoche from other uniform tropical hardwoods.
Drying & Acclimating Exotic Woods
Important for maintaining stability in medium-density species used in interior applications.
Finishing Oils vs Polyurethane on Exotic Species
Helps determine the best finish to enhance or maintain the natural, understated look of woods like Ojoche.
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
Ojoche is valuable in a collection as a reference for more uniform Central American hardwoods. It contrasts well against highly figured species and helps demonstrate how grain and color variation can range from subtle to dramatic within the same region.
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:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
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.