Tatajuba
Bagassa guianensis
Tatajuba is a beautiful South American hardwood featuring bright golden-yellow to olive-brown coloration that darkens to rich honey tones with age. This moderately dense wood combines excellent durability with good workability and natural resistance to decay and insects, making it ideal for outdoor furniture, decking, boat building, and exterior joinery. Its attractive color, combined with dimensional stability and weather resistance, makes it a versatile choice for both exterior and interior applications.
Janka Hardness
1570 lbf
Moderately hard
Density
52 lbs/ft³
Medium density
Shrinkage
Moderate (8.1% tangential, 4.9% radial)
Good stability
Appearance
Color: Bright yellow to golden-brown when fresh, darkening to olive-brown or honey brown with age. Some pieces show greenish tones. Sapwood is pale yellow.
Grain: Interlocked to irregular grain with medium texture. Natural luster provides attractive finish.
Key Characteristics
- •Bright golden-yellow color
- •Good natural durability
- •Excellent weather resistance
- •Resists decay and insects
- •Good dimensional stability
- •Works well with tools
Common Applications
Maintenance
Good durability with moderate maintenance. Can be left unfinished to weather to silver-gray, or oiled annually to preserve golden color. Resistant to decay in exterior applications.
Advantages
- +Beautiful bright yellow coloration
- +Good natural decay resistance
- +Works easily with hand and power tools
- +Good dimensional stability
- +Suitable for exterior applications
- +More affordable than teak
Considerations
- •Color darkens significantly with age and UV
- •Interlocked grain may cause tearout
- •Not as hard as premium exotics
- •May cause skin irritation in some people
- •Color can vary between boards
- •Limited availability outside South America