Philippine Bintangor
Scientific name: Calophyllum blancoi
Overview
Philippine Bintangor (Calophyllum blancoi) is a tropical hardwood native to the Philippines and belongs to the Calophyllaceae family. It is one of several timber-producing species within the Calophyllum genus and is closely related to the various Bintangor species found throughout Southeast Asia. The tree naturally occurs in lowland and coastal forests, where it develops large, straight trunks that produce quality commercial timber.
The wood is valued for its attractive golden-brown coloration, moderate density, and dependable working properties. For generations, it has been used in furniture making, cabinetry, interior millwork, veneer, paneling, and general construction throughout the Philippines. Although not as widely traded internationally as Teak or Mahogany, Philippine Bintangor remains an important regional hardwood prized for its versatility and attractive appearance.
Freshly cut heartwood ranges from pale golden-brown to medium reddish-brown and gradually darkens with age. The grain is usually interlocked or slightly wavy, often producing attractive ribbon figure on quartersawn surfaces. Combined with its moderate natural luster, these characteristics make it suitable for both decorative and structural woodworking projects.
Within the Asian hardwood collection, Philippine Bintangor represents one of the Philippines’ most important members of the Calophyllum genus and contributes to the diversity of the broader Bintangor timber group.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Philippine Bintangor
- Scientific Name: Calophyllum blancoi
- Region: Asian Hardwoods
- Native Range: Philippines
- Tree Size: 80–130 ft tall (25–40 m), 2–4 ft trunk diameter (0.6–1.2 m)
- Average Dried Weight: Approximately 40–47 lbs/ft³ (640–755 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: Approximately 1,350–1,600 lbf
- Color: Golden brown to reddish-brown, darkening gradually with age
- Grain: Usually interlocked to slightly wavy
- Texture: Medium
Identification Characteristics
Philippine Bintangor is recognized by its warm golden-brown heartwood, moderate natural luster, and attractive interlocked grain. The sapwood is pale cream to light yellow and is clearly distinguished from the darker heartwood.
The wood has a medium texture with evenly distributed pores that produce a clean, uniform appearance. Interlocked grain commonly creates subtle ribbon figure on quartersawn lumber, while freshly machined surfaces often display an attractive natural sheen.
Key identification traits include:
- Golden-brown to reddish-brown heartwood
- Cream to pale yellow sapwood
- Interlocked to slightly wavy grain
- Medium texture
- Moderate natural luster
- Ribbon figure on quartersawn lumber
- Distinct heartwood and sapwood contrast
- Good natural durability
Working Properties
Philippine Bintangor machines well with both hand and machine tools. While the interlocked grain may occasionally produce tear-out during planing, sharp cutters generally provide excellent results and smooth finished surfaces.
The wood glues, sands, and finishes well while taking both stains and clear finishes evenly. It also turns well and develops an attractive natural polish suitable for high-quality furniture and decorative woodworking.
- Machines well
- Turns well
- Sands smoothly
- Accepts glue readily
- Finishes exceptionally well
- Develops an attractive natural polish
- Moderate dimensional stability
- Occasional tear-out in interlocked grain
Safety Note
Wood dust from Philippine Bintangor may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals. Proper dust extraction and respiratory protection are recommended during machining and sanding operations.
Common Uses
Philippine Bintangor common uses include:
- Fine furniture
- Cabinetry
- Interior millwork
- Architectural trim
- Decorative veneer
- Paneling
- Flooring
- Woodturning
- Boat interiors
- Carvings
- General construction
- Collector wood samples
Sustainability & Notes
Calophyllum blancoi is native to the Philippines, where it forms part of the country’s biologically rich tropical forests. Like many native hardwood species, it has historically contributed to local woodworking and construction industries while also providing important ecological benefits within its natural habitat.
Sustainable forest management and responsible harvesting practices are increasingly important to ensure the long-term conservation of Philippine hardwood resources. Responsibly sourced lumber from managed forests helps protect native ecosystems while supporting continued use of this attractive tropical hardwood.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Teysmann’s Bintangor – Another Southeast Asian Calophyllum species valued for furniture, cabinetry, and millwork.
Alexandrian Laurel – A closely related coastal Calophyllum species known for its beautiful grain and production of tamanu oil.
Bintangor – A member of the Calophyllum genus that shares many botanical and woodworking similarities.
Related Guides
How to Identify Wood by End Grain Patterns – Learn how end grain characteristics help distinguish similar hardwood species.
Identifying Unknown Wood Samples – Discover practical techniques for identifying tropical hardwoods through appearance, grain, and texture.
Moisture Content & Long-Term Stability – Learn how proper moisture management affects hardwood performance and longevity.
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
Philippine Bintangor is an excellent addition to collections featuring Southeast Asian hardwoods and the diverse Calophyllum genus. Its attractive color, subtle ribbon figure, and historical importance within Philippine forestry make it both an educational and visually appealing specimen.
Collectors often seek well-prepared samples that showcase the wood’s natural luster and interlocked grain. When displayed alongside Bintangor, Teysmann’s Bintangor, Alexandrian Laurel, and West Indian Bintangor, it provides valuable comparisons between closely related species found across different tropical regions.
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.