Sucupira
Diplotropis spp.
Sucupira is a premium South American hardwood renowned for its exceptional hardness, beautiful chocolate brown color, and outstanding durability. This dense wood features attractive grain patterns with natural luster, making it ideal for high-end flooring, decking, fine furniture, and architectural millwork. Sucupira's combination of extreme hardness, natural rot resistance, and rich coloration has made it a favorite for demanding applications where both beauty and longevity are essential.
Janka Hardness
2140 lbf
Very hard
Density
58 lbs/ft³
Very dense
Shrinkage
Moderate (8.3% tangential, 5.3% radial)
Good stability
Appearance
Color: Medium to dark chocolate brown heartwood, often with lighter golden brown streaks. Color deepens with age. Sapwood is pale yellow-white, clearly distinct.
Grain: Interlocked to wavy grain with medium texture. Natural luster provides attractive sheen when finished.
Key Characteristics
- •Beautiful chocolate brown color
- •Very hard and dense
- •Excellent natural durability
- •Outstanding wear resistance
- •Natural luster and sheen
- •Good dimensional stability
Common Applications
Maintenance
Extremely durable requiring minimal maintenance. For flooring, periodic cleaning maintains appearance. Outdoor applications can be left unfinished or oiled annually to preserve color.
Advantages
- +Exceptional hardness and wear resistance
- +Beautiful rich chocolate coloration
- +Excellent natural decay and insect resistance
- +Natural luster requires minimal finishing
- +Very stable with moderate shrinkage
- +Long-lasting in high-traffic applications
Considerations
- •High density makes working challenging
- •Requires sharp carbide-tipped tools
- •Pre-drilling essential for all fasteners
- •Interlocked grain can cause tearout
- •Higher price than many exotics
- •Color can vary between boards