Hardwood species / brazilian-walnut
Brazilian Walnut
One of the hardest, most durable woods on earth — built for extreme performance.
Common Name(s)
Brazilian Walnut, Ipe, Lapacho
Scientific Name
Handroanthus spp. (formerly Tabebuia spp.)
Distribution
Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Northern South America
About Brazilian Walnut
Brazilian Walnut — commonly known as Ipe — is an ultra-dense, high-performance hardwood renowned for its exceptional hardness, durability, and resistance to decay. Often used in premium decking, heavy exterior structures, and long-life architectural applications, Ipe is one of the toughest woods available. Its density rivals steel, giving it outstanding wear resistance and stability even in harsh tropical or marine environments. With proper machining and finishing, Brazilian Walnut delivers decades of service with minimal maintenance.
Read the material
Key Attributes
Appearance
Colour
Olive-brown to dark chocolate
Grain
Straight to interlocked
Texture
Fine to medium
Density
Extremely heavy
Performance
Workability
Difficult (high density + silica)
Durability
Exceptional (decay, insects, marine borers)
Stability
Excellent dimensional stability
Measured performance
Technical Information
Reference values from the Evergreen species catalogue. Talk with our team about your project conditions.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 3,510 lbf |
| Modulus of Rupture | 25,400 psi |
| Modulus of Elasticity | 3,200,000 psi |
| Density | 69–75 lbs/ft³ (avg ~72) |
| Crushing Strength | 13,500 psi |
| Shrinkage (Radial) | 4.2% |
| Shrinkage (Tangential) | 7.2% |
| Shrinkage (Volumetric) | 11.4% |
| T/R Ratio | 1.7 |
| Workability | Difficult (high density + silica) |
| Planing | Fair, with sharp tools |
| Sanding | Good |
| Finishing | Accepts oils; UV oils recommended outdoors |
| Stability | Excellent dimensional stability |
| Durability | Exceptional (marine borers, decay, termites) |
| Moisture Movement | Low |
Where it works best
Recommended Uses
Let’s build something lasting
Ready to start your project with Brazilian Walnut?
Our team can help you choose the perfect dimensions and finish
Available Dimensions
- Thickness
- 1"-3"
- Width
- 4"-12"
- Length
- 8ft-16ft
- Grade
- Select, Prime, Rustic
- Milling
- Custom Milling Available
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