Below are brief descriptions of the various hardwood species that are used in flooring. Rejuvenate Floor Care Products are safe to use on all these floor types. Be sure to check your manufacturer's instructions; and also test in a small area prior to using. In addition to flooring, these wood species are used in several applications including cabinetry, furniture, jewelry boxes, panels, boat building, tool handles, art and more. For cabinets and furniture, use Rejuvenate Cabinet and Furniture restorer, perfect for renewing the look of old cabinets and maintaining new ones too. See also the Janka scale to find out how each wood ranks; in terms of density and hardness. The Janka scale is useful for determining the hardness of a wood species.

Hardwood species are displayed in alphabetical order:

African Mahogany Floor - the wood is made in Africa and is relative to the mahogany family. It's pink to purplish in color with a straight or interlocked grain. It's distinguished by it's striped look. This species of mahogany wood is usually lighter in color than its counterparts.

African Padauk Floor - This wood type can be found in tropical regions of Africa and is known for its amazing hardness and durability. For this reason, it's widely used in flooring, boat building, tool handles and more. The wood in its natural state, is resistant to weather-decay and is attractive because of its unique colors.

African Pearlwood Floor - This native of Africa is one of the tallest in the region, reaching heights of up to 200 ft. It's also one of the toughest hardwoods out there. The heartwood is mainly pink-brown, red brown or rich red while the sapwood is pink-white to gray brown. This wood species is generally used for flooring, cabinetry, furniture, turneries and more. It's also known as "Mobai."

Afzelia Floor - commonly referred to as "Doussie," it's an exotic wood from Africa that is known for its stability and durability. The sapwood ranges from yellow to white while the heartwood ranges from light brown to red-brown. The grain can be straight or interlocked and apart from flooring; it's used for making furniture, rails, decks and more.

Amendoim Wood Floor - can be found in countries like Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. It has a roey grain and is moderately resistant to decay. It's unique because of the reddish brown or tan hues.

American Beech Floor - described as heavy, tough and strong, is odorless and intrinsically flexible; which makes it perfect for flooring. The sapwood is white with a red hint while the heartwood can be light to dark red brown with a straight grain.

Angelim Pedra Floor - one of the standout properties of this wood type is that it does not darken with age. It's also water-resistant. The heartwood is a light yellowish brown, while the sapwood is a pale brown. It has an interlocked grain and is one of the hardest woods according to the Janka scale.

Ash Wood Floor - this wood type is widely recognized for its bending properties. It remains smooth under friction. The pure lustrous hues exhibited by this wood type, makes it appealing to many homeowners. Ash wood is almost white in color and has a straight and occasional wavy grain.

Balsa Wood Floor - the wood is one of the softest commercial hardwoods but is also strong despite its weight. The wood originates from South America and has a tan to light golden brown appearance.

Bamboo Wood Floor - a sustainable, fast growing wood species, natural bamboo woods have a brown to tanned appearance.

Bankirai Wood Floor - the tree is native to Indonesia and is decay-resistant in its natural state. It has a glossy-smooth texture and the sapwood is light pale brown, while the heartwood is more brownish-yellow.

Basswood Floor - even though this wood is on the lighter side of the spectrum, it is capable of withstanding heavy traffic. It has a straight, fine grain and the sapwood is smooth white to pale brown, while the heartwood is a smooth white to pale pink-brown.

Black Cherry Wood Floor - is appealing because of its lustrous shine and satin texture. The grain is fine and uniform but can also be wavy. It's heartwood ranges from light to dark- red brown, contrasting the sapwood, which may be light brown or light pink.

Black Walnut Wood Floor - the wood is prized for its color, strength and durability. The grain is mostly open and straight and the color ranges from a deep, rich dark, almost chocolate brown to a purplish black.

Blackwood Floor - the wood is very dense and can be found in Southeast Asia. The sapwood is yellow to pale yellow, while the heartwood ranges from a rose color to dark brown with darker streaks. The grain is ribbon-like and interlocked.

Bloodwood Floor - has a prominent red color and exudes a sweet smell when turned. It ages to a deep brown color if a lacquer is not applied. The color ranges from a grayish red to a deep, rich crimson; and it has a straight to variable grain.

Boire Wood Floor - the wood has a slight cedar like scent and is one of the lighter hardwoods around. The color of the sapwood is pale brown while the heartwood is bronze in color with dark stripes. It has an interlocked grain.

Bolivian Cherry Floor - the wood displays tones of red and it has a very fine grain. The tree is grown in Central America and it's one of the hardest types of wood on the Janka scale.

Boreal Wood Floor - the wood is produced domestically and it's sapwood is white to faint yellow, while the heartwood is gray-white to light brown in color. The grain is straight and it's one of the softer types of hardwoods.

Brazilian Cherry Wood Floor - the wood is also known as "Jatoba" and is grown in Brazil. Its appearance can vary from yellowish hues to pink-reds or dark reds with black striping. It may have a regular or irregular grain and has a high resistance to insects, fungi and water.

Brazilian Chestnut Wood floor - also known as "Cumaru" and is produced in Brazil. The wood has good structural stability and is resistant to decay and insects. The color ranges from tan to deep brown and it has an irregular or slightly interlocked grain.

Brazilian Ebony Wood Floor - is purplish dark maroon to purplish black brown, with some light streaks. The grain is mostly straight but maybe slightly interlocked and it is the second hardest wood species to be ranked on the Janka scale.

Brazilian Koa Wood Floor - is also known as "Tigerwood." It has an obvious striped appearance and is prized for this unique quality. It has a wavy, interlocked grain and it's color darkens with exposure to sunlight.

Brazilian Redwood Floor - once dried, the wood is resistant to decay, moisture and termite. The sapwood is white to light brown, while the heartwood is light to dark reddish-brown in color. It has a straight, sometimes wavy grain.

Brazilian Eucalyptus Wood Floor - the wood is also known as "Rose Gum" and is used widely in flooring and furniture making. The sapwood is light brown while the heartwood ranges from pale pink to red-brown. It has a straight and interlocked grain.

Brushbox Wood Floor - the wood is produced in Australia and darkens when exposed to sunlight. The sapwood is a pale grayish brown, while the heartwood ranges from reddish to pinkish brown. The grain is curly and interlocked.

Bubinga Wood Floor - the wood has a rose-colored background with darker purple striping and it has a uniform grain. It's valued for its unique appearance and different cuts in the wood will show different patterns. The tree is grown in Central Africa and the wood deepens in color with age.

Cameroon Wood Floor - the sapwood is light brown to white, while the heartwood is olive-brown in color and it has an irregular or interlocked grain. It's naturally resistant to decay and is produced in Central Mexico and South America.

Carbonized Bamboo Wood Floor - since there's no vast choice in colors for natural bamboo, this wood is sometimes steamed for longer periods to get a caramel-like color. This makes it softer than natural bamboo. Bamboo is a renewable wood source and is grown worldwide.

Caribbean Walnut Wood Floor - the color ranges from medium brown tones and it displays significant color changes over time. The tree is grown in Belize, Guatemala and Mexico.

Chestnut Wood Floor - the wood is produced domestically; and it has a straight and occasional spiraled grain. The sapwood is white to light brown, while the heartwood is gray-brown to brown. It is also naturally resistant to decay.

Cocobolo Wood Floor - the wood is water-resistant and is also a type of rosewood. It is produced in Central America and is resistant to insects due natural oils. The heartwood ages to a deep, rich orange-red with black striping. It has a straight, interlocked grain.

Coffeebean Wood Floor - the wood is a domestic wood and is resistant to decay. The sapwood is green-white, while the heartwood is light brown to light red. It has a straight grain.

Cumaru Wood Floor - is also known as "Brazilian Chestnut" and is produced in Brazil. The wood has good structural stability and is resistant to decay and insects. The color ranges from tan to deep brown and it has an irregular or slightly interlocked grain.

Curupixa Wood Floor - the wood is produced in South America and it naturally repels fungi. The sapwood is light brown while the heartwood is brown to pink brown in color. It has a straight grain.

Doussie Wood Floor - the wood is produced in Africa and is known for its structural stability as it displays no movement over time. It is also known as "Afzelia" and the grain is straight and slightly interlocked. The sapwood is pale yellow to white, while the heartwood varies from light brown to reddish-brown.

Ebony Wood Floor - the tree is native to West Africa and is one of the denser wood types. The color is uniform jet black or black brown and the grain varies from straight to slightly interlocked or curly. The wood is widely used for making piano keys and other musical instruments.

Golden Teak Wood Floor - the wood is often mistaken for Brazilian teak because it's usually stained to achieve the color of true teak. It is, however, wood manufactured from the acacia tree in Australia. The wood has similar qualities to true teak wood though and has distinctive colors between the heartwood and sapwood. The sapwood has a lighter yellow tone while the heartwood has a darker brown color.

Hard Maple Wood Floor - the wood is locally grown and is one of the most prized wood types around. The sapwood of sugar maple is a lovely cream-white, while the heartwood ranges from creamy- white to light, red brown and it has a closed, uniform grain.

Hickory Wood Floor - the wood is one of the hardest American wood species and is commonly used where rustic, ranch style designs are desired. The heartwood is tan or reddish with a white or cream sapwood color and it has a closed grain.

Highland Beech Wood Floor - the wood is produced in Australia and is commonly used for flooring. The color varies from light tan to golden brown and it has a straight grain.

Honduran Mahogany Wood Floor - is relative to the mahogany family of trees. It is produced in South and Central America and it has an orange-brown color. The grain is straight and it sometimes adopts the name of the country that produces it, like Peruvian Mahogany, to take one example.

Imbuia Wood Floor - the wood is also known as "black cherry" and it has a pronounced color change over time. The heartwood ranges from light to dark- red brown, contrasting the sapwood, which may be light brown or light pink. It has a fine uniform, but sometimes wavy grain.

Ipe Wood Floor - is pronounced "ee-pay" and is the second hardest wood on the janka scale. It is fire-resistant and produced in Brazil. It is olive-brown in color and ages to a light silver grey color. The grain ranges from straight to very irregular.

Jarrah Wood Floor - the wood is produced in Australia and it is also called "eucalyptus." It is resistant to dry rot, splintering and wetness and is one of the most durable wood types around. It may appear in red, orange and brown in color and it has a wavy, interlocked grain.

Kambala Wood Floor - the wood is also known as "Iroko" and is grown in Africa. It is resistant to decay and sometimes used as a substitute for teak wood. The sapwood is yellow-white; while the heartwood is golden orange to brown. It has an interlocked grain.

Karri Wood Floor - the wood is made in Australia and South Africa. The color is not affected by exposure to sunlight and it has an interlocked grain. The sapwood is white while the heartwood is pale pink to red brown in color.

Kempas Wood Floor - is native to Indonesia and Malaysia. It is hard and durable with a spiral grain. The sapwood is yellow to pale white, while the heartwood is orange-red to red-brown. It's also acidic by nature.

Lacewood Floor - is also known as "leopardwood" and originates from Australia. It has a unique flaky look and remains smooth under friction. The sapwood is almost white, while the heartwood is pink to red-brown. It has a straight grain.

Lapacho Wood Floor - is also known as "Ipe" and is the second hardest wood on the janka scale. It is fire-resistant and produced in Brazil. It has an olive-brown color and ages to a light silver grey. The grain ranges from straight to very irregular.

Leopard Wood Floor - is also known as "Lacewood" and originates from Australia. It has a unique flaky look and remains smooth under friction. The sapwood is almost white, while the heartwood is pink to red-brown and it has a straight grain.

Lignum Vitae Wood Floor - is the hardest wood on the janka scale and is native to South America and the Caribbean. The heartwood color ranges from dark greenish brown to black reddish brown while the sapwood is a pale yellow. It has a slight, interlocked grain.

Locust Wood Floor - is wood produced in Canada and the United States and is unique because of the varied looks displayed with different angles of sunlight. The sapwood is yellow while the heartwood ranges from greenish-yellow to golden brown. It has a straight grain.

Makore Wood Floor - is grown in Africa. It repels termites and is known for it's lustrous look. The sapwood is white to pale pink, while the heartwood ranges from pink to red or light brown. It has a straight but sometimes interlocked grain.

Merbau Wood Floor - the wood is grown in the Indo-Malayan regions and is highly resistant to termites. It is a medium-brown colored wood with reddish orange highlights or yellow flecking. The grain varies from straight to interlocked or wavy.

Mesquite Wood Floor - the wood is grown domestically and is known for its strength and density. It has a light brown to dark reddish brown appearance. The grain is high in character, with ingrown barks and mineral streaks.

Movingui Wood Floor - the tree is grown in Africa. The sapwood is white to straw colored, while the heartwood is golden yellow to orange-brown. It has an interlocked, ribbon like grain.

Pecan Wood Floor - the wood is also known as "Hickory." It's one of the hardest American wood species and is commonly used where rustic ranch-style designs are desired. The heartwood is tan or red with white or cream sapwood. It has a closed grain.

Peroba Wood Floor - the wood is resistant to decay and is produced in the coastal regions of Brazil. The sapwood is white to yellow, while the heartwood is light olive colored with a red tint. It has an interlocked grain.

Peruvian Walnut Wood Floor - the wood is produced in South America and is also known as "Nogal." The color darkens over time and it has a straight and wavy grain. It has a dark brown color with black streaks.

Pradoo Wood Floor - the wood is produced in Asia and deepens to a copper-red color with age. The sapwood of Pradoo is grayish-white while the heartwood is yellowish-red to golden brown. It has an interlocked, ribbon-like grain.

Purpleheart Wood Floor - the wood is produced in Central and South America and is prized for its distinct appearance. It is resistant to water, termites and fungi and has a straight but sometimes wavy or irregular grain. The wood has a vibrant purple color; however, it darkens over time.

Red Mahogany Wood Floor - the wood is produced in Australia and repels termites. The heartwood of red mahogany is dark red, while the sapwood is cream-colored. It has an interlocked grain.

Red Oakwood Floor - red oakwood is manufactured in North America and is white to light brown in color. The color changes with exposure to sunlight and it has a long, straight grain. Be sure not to spill water on the floor or black spots will appear.

Ribbon Gum Wood Floor - the wood is produced in Australia and is used widely for making pulp. The color ranges from light pink-brown to a paler shade of yellow. It has a straight grain and has a similar smell to eucalyptus.

Rosewood Floor - the wood is native to Brazil and Bolivia and is sensitive to sunlight. It has a dark brown to violet color with black streaks and is uniform grained.

Santos Mahogany Wood Floor - is also known as "Bocote" or "Cabrueva." It has a reddish brown to deep red color that remains constant over time. It has a striped grain.

Sapele Wood Floor - the wood is manufactured in Africa and it has comparable qualities to Mahogany. The sapwood is white or pale yellow while the heartwood ranges in color from a medium to dark red or purple brown. The grain is interlocked.

Shedua Wood Floor - the wood is one of the lightest hardwoods, and it has a tanned, striped look. The sapwood is white to straw colored, while the heartwood is light golden brown to red-brown. It has an interlocked grain.

Southern Chestnut Wood Floor - the wood is also dubbed "Chichipate" and is a tough and heavy wood type. The color varies from a tan-brown with golden highlights to a medium tan/chestnut brown.It has a uniform grain.

Spotted Gum Wood Floor - the wood has similar qualities to eucalyptus and is produced in Australia. It is resistant to decay and as the name implies, it has a spotted appearance. The heartwood ranges from light- brown to deep red-brown, while the sapwood is generally white. It has an interlocked & wavy grain.

Sycamore Wood Floor - the wood is locally grown and bears a similar look to Lacewood. The sapwood ranges from white to light yellow to red-brown while the heartwood ranges from light to dark brown. It has an interlocked, irregular grain.

Sydney Blue Wood Floor - the tree grows in Australia and is a hard, coarse and even-textured wood. The heartwood color varies from soft brown to deep red hues, while the sapwood has lighter colors. It has a slightly interlocked or straight grain.

Tallowwood Floor - the Australian native is resistant to decay. The sapwood is white while the heartwood is pale to deep yellow-brown in color. It has an interlocked grain.

Tasmaninan Oakwood Floor - from the island of Tasmania, Australia, the sapwood is pale brown, while the heartwood is light brown to a pale pink in color. The grain is straight but sometimes wavy.

Teak Wood Floor - the wood is a natural insect repellant and is widely used in decking and patios. The sapwood of teak is white to pale yellow, while the heartwood is dark golden-brown to dark golden-yellow or rich brown; with chocolate-colored streaks. It has a straight and occasionally wavy grain.

Tigerwood Floor - is also known as "Brazilian Koa." It has an obvious striped appearance and is prized for this quality. It has a wavy, interlocked grain and the color darkens with exposure to sunlight.

Tualang Wood Floor - is native to Southeast Asia and is commonly used in constructing utility poles. The sapwood is gray-white to yellow-brown while the heartwood ranges from dark red to deep chocolate. It has an interlocked grain.

White Oakwood Floor - the wood is water-resistant and is manufactured in The United States and Canada. It has a beige to tan color and has a long straight grain.

Zebrawood Floor - the wood has a striped appearance as the name implies. The color darkens with age and the wood is native to Central Africa. The sapwood is white and distinct from the heartwood, which is pale yellow brown with narrow, dark stripes. It has a wavy, interlocked grain.