Curupay
Anadenanthera colubrina
Curupay is an exceptionally hard and durable South American hardwood prized for its rich reddish-brown color and outstanding natural resistance to decay and insects. This dense wood features attractive grain patterns with occasional darker streaking, making it ideal for demanding applications like heavy-traffic flooring, outdoor decking, and construction timber. Its combination of extreme hardness, durability, and beautiful warm coloration makes it a premium choice for projects requiring both performance and aesthetics.
Janka Hardness
3840 lbf
Extremely hard
Density
71 lbs/ft³
Extremely dense
Shrinkage
Moderate to high (9.2% tangential, 5.8% radial)
Careful drying needed
Appearance
Color: Reddish-brown to dark brown heartwood, often with purple or orange tones. Color deepens to rich chocolate brown with age. Sapwood is pale yellow.
Grain: Interlocked to irregular grain with medium to coarse texture. Attractive natural luster.
Key Characteristics
- •Extremely hard and dense
- •Rich reddish-brown color
- •Outstanding natural durability
- •Excellent decay resistance
- •Superior insect resistance
- •Beautiful natural luster
Common Applications
Maintenance
Exceptional durability with minimal maintenance needed. For flooring, periodic cleaning maintains appearance. Outdoor applications can be left unfinished or oiled annually to preserve color.
Advantages
- +One of hardest woods in the world
- +Exceptional resistance to decay and insects
- +Beautiful rich coloration
- +Very long service life
- +Suitable for ground contact applications
- +Natural luster requires minimal finishing
Considerations
- •Extreme hardness makes working very difficult
- •Requires carbide-tipped cutting tools
- •Pre-drilling mandatory for all fasteners
- •High shrinkage requires careful drying
- •Heavy weight makes handling challenging
- •Limited availability outside South America