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Dalbergia stevensonii
Rosewood
Native to the swamp forests of southern Belize and Guatemala — a dense, deeply colored hardwood prized for its natural oils and exceptional acoustic resonance.
View Selected InventoryAbout Rosewood
Rosewood grows in the broadleaf evergreen swamp forests of southern Belize, Guatemala, and adjacent Mexico — a genuinely rare habitat that's part of what makes this timber so valuable. It's dense and durable, with rich reddish-brown to purplish heartwood often marked by darker streaks, a fine and even texture, and a natural luster that shows beautifully once finished. Its high natural oil content carries a distinct, sweet, rose-like scent that can persist for years after the wood is cut — a rare quality that, combined with its exceptional acoustic resonance, has made it a longstanding favorite for musical instruments, particularly marimba keys. It's also naturally durable, with strong resistance to both decay and termites. That same desirability has come at a cost: heavy commercial demand has driven real population loss from illegal logging, making responsibly sourced Rosewood increasingly rare.
At a glance
- Honduras Rosewood
- Nogaed
At a glance
- Origin
- Southern Belize, Guatemala, adjacent Mexico
- Category
- Musical Instruments · Indoor Furniture
- Best for
- Marimba keys and other musical instrument components, fine furniture, decorative work
- Working properties
- A dense, oily hardwood — takes a smooth finish and natural luster, with strong resistance to decay and termites.
Spec sheet
Physical-mechanical properties
Physical-mechanical values for Rosewood from the approved Final Content document.
Average Dry Density
1,025 kg/mu00b3
Specific Gravity
0.82u20131.03
Janka Hardness
~998 kg (2,200 lbf / 9,790 N)
Modulus of Elasticity (MOE)
~224,340u2013225,360 kg/cmu00b2 (22.0u201322.1 GPa)
Rupture Resistance (MOR)
~1,805 kg/cmu00b2 (177 MPa)
Bending Strength
~1,805 kg/cmu00b2 (177 MPa)
Crushing Strength
~714 kg/cmu00b2 (~70 MPa)*
Volumetric Shrinkage
~9.0%*
Texture
Fine and uniform
Grain
Straight to slightly interlocked
Natural Luster
High
Where it's used
Built for the demanding jobs
01 — Furniture
Indoor & outdoor furniture
02 — Flooring
Premium hardwood flooring
03 — Musical Instruments
Tonewood & musical instruments
04 — Marine
Marine decking & boat building
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