Purple Heart

Purpleheart (Peltogyne spp.) is a South American hardwood known for exactly one thing, and it does that one thing extremely well: color. Freshly cut, the heartwood is a dull grayish-purplish brown; within days of light exposure it commits fully to a striking eggplant purple, eventually mellowing toward dark brown with purple undertones after years under UV.

Working Properties

Run dull tools too hot through purpleheart and it fights back with a gummy resin that clogs blades and bits — sharp edges and a moderate feed rate keep the peace. Grain can turn unpredictable and tear out during planing. On the whole, though, its dulling effect on edges is only moderate, gentler than the truly dense tropical species.

Typical Uses

Furniture and cabinetry accents, inlay, flooring, and turned objects, almost always chosen specifically for its color.