Spotlight On: Santa Maria
Calophyllum brasiliense
SPECIES: Calophyllum brasiliense
COMPARABLE TO OTHER POPULAR WOODS: Teak, Mahogany, with crushing strength comparable to White Oak, Teak, and Hard Maple.
ORIGIN: Central America and South America, Mexico, and West Indies.
COMMON APPLICATIONS: Fine furniture, decking, exterior garden furniture, flooring, veneer, shipbuilding, and general construction.
CHARACTERISTICS / APPEARANCE: The heartwood is often a pink brown color, marked with fine darker red striping, with sapwood that may be lighter in color but is not always clearly differentiated. The texture is medium and fairly uniform, with typically interlocked grain and medium luster. The wood is moderately heavy and strong, with hardness classified as medium. It is easy to work, usually yielding fairly smooth surfaces. It is below average in planing, turning, and boring but does take nails and screws well if pre-bored.
JANKA HARDNESS SCALE: 1,150 lb_f (see chart on page 56)
COMMENTS: Santa Maria is fairly durable, being resistant to fungi and dry wood borers, though very susceptible to attack by dry wood termites and not resistant to marine bores. It is rather slow to season, with a high risk of checking and distortion. Once dry it is moderately stable in service.
Do you have questions about these or other species that might be a fit for your next project? Contact a supplier using the Buyers Guide beginning on page 56.
What's the next emerging wood species?
"We have our eye on Carribean Walnut (also known as Tzalam, Latin name: Lysiloma spp.). From Central America, it has the ability to stand up to the elements while maintaining a nice visual appeal."
— Jesper Bach, Director of Imports, Baillie Lumber
Frequently asked questions
What is the scientific name of Santa Maria wood?+
Santa Maria is the common name for Calophyllum brasiliense.
Where does Santa Maria wood come from?+
Santa Maria originates from Central America, South America, Mexico, and the West Indies.
What does Santa Maria wood look like?+
The heartwood is typically a pink brown color marked with fine darker red striping, while the sapwood may be lighter but is not always clearly differentiated. It has a medium, fairly uniform texture with typically interlocked grain and medium luster.
What is the Janka hardness of Santa Maria?+
Santa Maria has a Janka hardness rating of 1,150 lb_f, classifying it as medium hardness. Its crushing strength is comparable to White Oak, Teak, and Hard Maple.
What is Santa Maria wood used for?+
Common applications include fine furniture, decking, exterior garden furniture, flooring, veneer, shipbuilding, and general construction.
How durable is Santa Maria wood?+
Santa Maria is fairly durable and resistant to fungi and dry wood borers, but it is very susceptible to dry wood termites and not resistant to marine borers. It is slow to season with a high risk of checking and distortion, though it is moderately stable once dry.
What is the next emerging wood species to watch?+
According to Jesper Bach, Director of Imports at Baillie Lumber, Caribbean Walnut (also known as Tzalam, Lysiloma spp.) from Central America is an emerging species to watch because it stands up well to the elements while maintaining a nice visual appeal.