Hymenolobium petraeum Ducke
Angelim Pedra is a dense, richly colored hardwood from the Brazilian Amazon — hard enough for demanding flooring, decking, and structural work, and priced below premium species like Ipê and Cumaru. It's one of the species Rare Earth Hardwoods regularly stocks in our S4S and rough dimensional lumber lines.
Angelim Pedra (Hymenolobium petraeum) is native to the Brazilian Amazon and closely related to several other Hymenolobium species sold under the same trade name. It grows to substantial size in the rainforest canopy and has long been used in Brazil for heavy construction, flooring, and transportation decking before finding a wider export market.
Freshly milled heartwood runs golden tan to orange-brown, sometimes with darker streaking, and gradually deepens to a richer brown with age and UV exposure — a color shift typical of tropical hardwoods left unfinished outdoors. The grain is straight to interlocked with a coarse, somewhat uneven texture, giving it a more rustic, less uniform look than tighter-grained species like Ipê.
At 1,720 lbf on the Janka scale, it sits well above nearly every domestic hardwood while remaining more affordable and easier to machine than top-tier Brazilian species. That combination — real hardness, moderate decay resistance, and manageable cost — is why we include it in both our S4S and rough dimensional lumber lines.
| Botanical Name | Hymenolobium petraeum (trade name also covers closely related Hymenolobium spp.) |
|---|---|
| Family | Fabaceae (legume family) |
| Janka Hardness | 1,720 lbf |
| Specific Gravity | 0.80 (oven-dry weight / green volume) |
| Average Dried Weight | ~50 lbs/ft³ (800 kg/m³) |
| Durability / Decay Resistance | Class 3 — moderately durable |
| Insect / Termite Resistance | Susceptible to dry-wood termites — treat or protect for ground contact |
| Workability | Easy to machine with ordinary tools; pre-bore for fasteners |
| Color | Golden tan to orange-brown heartwood, darkening with age; pale, poorly demarcated sapwood |
| Grain & Texture | Straight to interlocked grain; coarse, uneven texture |
| Origin | Brazilian Amazon (Pará and surrounding states) |
Scroll for a closer look at the grain and color in person.
Durability Class 3 — moderately durable. Naturally resists white and brown rot fungus better than softwoods, but doesn't match the near-immunity of top-tier species like Ipê. Well suited to exterior use with normal maintenance; not recommended for direct ground burial.
Rated susceptible to dry-wood termites and borers in technical durability testing. For ground-contact or high termite-pressure applications, pair it with a borate treatment or physical barrier; above-grade uses like decking, flooring, and framing are generally fine untreated.
Like other dense tropical hardwoods, its tight, high-density grain structure resists ignition and slows flame spread compared to softwoods and lower-density lumber. It hasn't been independently fire-class rated the way Ipê has, so treat this as a general density benefit rather than a certified fire rating.
1,720 lbf Janka — about a third harder than red oak (1,290 lbf) and tougher than hard maple (1,450 lbf), though softer than Ipê (≈3,510 lbf) or Cumaru (≈3,540 lbf). Machines well with ordinary tools despite the hardness, though interlocked grain can cause some tearout; pre-bore for nailing and screwing.
Common Applications
Angelim Pedra tests at 1,720 lbf on the Janka hardness scale — about a third harder than red oak (1,290 lbf) and tougher than hard maple (1,450 lbf), though softer than premium decking species like Ipê (roughly 3,510 lbf) or Cumaru (roughly 3,540 lbf). It's a solid mid-tier choice for real hardness without top-tier pricing.
It's rated Durability Class 3, or moderately durable — better than softwoods and many domestic hardwoods, but not in the same class as naturally rot-immune species like Ipê. It performs well in exterior applications with normal maintenance, though we don't recommend it for direct ground contact.
Technical testing rates it susceptible to dry-wood termites, so for ground-contact or high termite-pressure sites we recommend a borate treatment or a physical barrier. Above-grade uses like decking, flooring, and framing are generally fine without additional treatment.
Common applications include decking, flooring, stair treads, heavy timber framing, interior and exterior joinery, furniture and case goods, and trailer or container flooring — anywhere that calls for real hardness and reasonable weather resistance at a moderate cost.
Yes, relative to its hardness — it machines well with ordinary carbide-tipped tools, though interlocked grain can cause some tearout on certain cuts. We recommend pre-boring for nails and screws; it glues and finishes without issue.
Angelim Pedra from Rare Earth Hardwoods is sourced through our own Zero Impact Brazil facility, harvested sustainably and ethically, in compliance with all applicable regulatory agencies — the same accountable supply chain behind every species in our catalog.
Tell us your dimensions, grade, and volume — wholesale, commercial, or retail — and we'll confirm current availability.
Inquire About Your Project →We’re in the process of redeveloping our website for our slate of new offerings.
In the meantime, please send us a message or give us a call.
We’re particularly interested in your wholesale or commercial quantity inquiries.
