Our recent trips to South America have yielded a rich source of reclaimed peroba (Paratecoma peroba and Aspidosperma peroba), a beautiful tropical hardwood that is new to our line of woods from around the world.

Found primarily in barns and industrial structures, peroba is a stunning, durable wood which has a golden-to-reddish color and an interlocked grain pattern. It has a Janka hardness rating of 1557, well above that of teak, oak and hard maple. In spite of its durability, it is renowned in central South America for its workability and structural strength. The grain of peroba weathers into a complex filigree of surface checking that is both unique and visually stunning.

Peroba was once found throughout central South American rainforests. It grows to over 100’ tall with a thick, umbrella-like canopy. Because of its unique qualities, peroba was used extensively throughout the region as a structural building material. Peroba trees are now fairly rare and protected in many regional forests. Reuse of reclaimed peroba eases the demand on these remaining trees while preserving a beautiful piece of history.