Princewood
Scientific name: Cordia gerascanthus
Overview
Princewood is a moderately dense tropical hardwood found throughout the Caribbean and parts of Central America. It is valued for its balance of strength, workability, and appearance, making it suitable for furniture and general woodworking applications. While not widely exported, it is an important regional species that performs well in a variety of uses.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Princewood
- Scientific Name: Cordia gerascanthus
- Region: Caribbean & West Indies Hardwoods
- Tree Size: 40–80 ft tall, 1–3 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: ~35–45 lbs/ft³
- Janka Hardness: Not officially rated (moderate hardness)
- Color: Light to medium brown, sometimes with golden tones
- Grain: Straight to slightly interlocked
- Texture: Medium to fine
Identification Characteristics
Princewood typically has a clean, natural appearance with subtle grain and warm coloration.
Key identification traits include:
- Light to medium brown with golden hues
- Moderately fine, even texture
- Straight to slightly interlocked grain
- Uniform appearance with minimal figure
Working Properties
Princewood is considered easy to work compared to many tropical hardwoods, making it a practical choice for woodworking projects.
- Machines easily with standard tools
- Good gluing and finishing properties
- Stable when properly dried
- Suitable for both hand and machine work
Safety Note
No widely reported toxicity, though standard precautions such as dust collection and respiratory protection are recommended.
Common Uses
Princewood is used in a range of applications where moderate strength and good workability are desired.
- Furniture
- Cabinetry
- Interior construction
- Carving
- General woodworking
Sustainability & Notes
Princewood is not a heavily traded international species and is typically used within its native regions. Its moderate growth and localized use help reduce large-scale exploitation concerns.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Spanish Elm – Similar regional hardwood with comparable workability but often slightly more variable in grain.
Santa Maria – Another tropical hardwood with similar density, though typically darker and more widely used commercially.
Breadfruit – Lighter and softer, but comparable in ease of working and general application.
Related Guides
Machining Dense Tropical Hardwoods – Helps optimize tool setup and cutting techniques, even for moderate-density woods like Princewood.
Finishing Oils vs Polyurethane on Exotic Species – Explains finishing approaches for enhancing natural color and grain.
Why Some Species Become Restricted – Provides context on how regional woods may become limited or protected over time.
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
Princewood is not considered a rare collector species, but it serves as a strong representation of usable Caribbean hardwoods. It fits well in collections focused on practical woodworking species rather than extreme density or rarity.
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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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.
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