Color & grain

• Heartwood: Yellowish-brown to golden-brown, with striking black or darker stripes and marbled patterns that give the wood its distinctive appearance.
• Sapwood: Lighter, usually yellowish to cream-colored, but often not visible or insignificant due to the thickness of the heartwood.
• Grain: The grain is typically straight to slightly wavy with dark, contrasting veins that make the wood particularly attractive. Bocote often has a particularly marbled or snake-like grain, which makes it a desirable wood for decorative purposes.

Tree size & wood properties

• Average height: 15-25 meters
• Trunk diameter: 30-60 cm
• Hardness: Janka hardness: ~9,860 N – Bocote is a very hard wood with high strength and durability.
• Weight: Very high density, approx. 850-1,050 kg/m³ inthe dried state.
• Durability: Bocote is very resistant to moisture and insect infestation.

Frequent uses

• Furniture: Due to its beautiful grain and color, bocote is used for luxurious furniture such as tables, chairs, cabinets and shelves. It is often used for unique pieces or designer furniture where the wood serves as an eye-catcher.
• Musical instruments: Bocote is used to make musical instruments, especially guitars, piano keys and flutes. The resonant properties and beauty of the wood make it a popular choice for instrument makers.
• Veneers & Inlays: Bocote is often used as a veneer for interiors or for decorative inlay work. Its unique patterns and strong visual impact make it a preferred material for artwork and fine craft products.
• Handicrafts & woodturning: Due to its exceptional grain and stability, bocote is used for woodturning, sculptures and high-quality art objects.