Canarywood

Botanical Name

Centrolobium spp.

Other Common Names

Canary, Tarara Amarilla

Region

South America

Country

Panama, Ecuador and southern Brazil.

The Tree

Canarywood is generally a large tree reaching heights of 100 ft. or more with a trunk diameter of 30 to 50 inches.

Appearance

Heartwood color can vary a fair amount, from a pale yellow-orange to a darker reddish brown, usually with darker streaks throughout. The color tends to darken with age.

Properties

Easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though some tear out can occur during planning on pieces with wild or irregular grain. Turns, glues and finishes well.

Working Properties

Has a medium texture and small pores. The grain is typically straight, but can be irregular or wild on some pieces.

Uses

Canarywood is said to have good acoustic properties, construction lumber, railroad crossties, flooring, veneers, boat-building, furniture, cabinetry, and turned items.

Availability

Typically priced in the moderate to high range. Somewhat inexpensive for an import.