Due to its unique properties, this type of wood is sold at a rather high price.
A Type of Wood That Changes Color Based on Its Environment
This special wood that changes color is known as Purple Heart (scientific name: Peltogyne spp), also referred to as purple heart wood. In Vietnam, it is called gỗ cẩm tím or hương tím. According to An ninh Thủ đô, this type of wood is characteristic of Central and South America, often found in the tropical rainforests of Brazil, Suriname, and Guyana…
Purple Heart wood has the ability to change color. (Photo: Pinterest).
What makes Purple Heart wood special is its initial brown-gray or light purple color, which deepens to a darker purple after exposure to air. If left in the environment and exposed to light for a longer period, the wood will turn a dark brown mixed with a hint of purple.
Purple Heart wood is renowned for its thickness and excellent resistance to water, termites, and mold. It ranks among the hardest and most durable types of wood in the world.
The tree that produces purple heart wood belongs to the legume family and is one of 23 species of flowering plants that can grow from medium to very large sizes. It has small light blue flowers, flat pod-shaped fruits, and flat, light black kidney-shaped seeds.
The purple heart tree has a thick trunk and wide canopy, reaching heights of 20-25m. (Photo: Pinterest).
The purple heart tree is characterized by a thick trunk, wide canopy, and heights ranging from 20 to 25 meters. The trunk diameter can reach nearly 1 meter, and the bark is fibrous with cracks. However, purple heart wood has a relatively slow growth rate, taking over 20 years to achieve economic value.
Purple heart wood is quite heavy and solid. The average weight of purple heart wood typically ranges from 800 to 1,000 kg/m3, depending on moisture content and specific wood type.
Purple heart trees are commonly grown in tropical or subtropical regions, with average temperatures ranging from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius and humidity levels between 70% and 85%. If the soil and climatic conditions are suitable, purple heart trees can thrive and produce the best quality wood.
Purple heart wood is heavy and solid. (Photo: Pinterest).
In Vietnam, purple heart wood is primarily grown in the Central Highlands and Southeast regions, such as Gia Lai, Đăk Lăk, Kon Tum, Tây Ninh, Lâm Đồng, and Đồng Nai…
One way to identify purple heart wood is by its distinct smell. This wood emits a pungent odor similar to that of bamboo soaked in water for a long time. This scent can repel many types of harmful insects.
According to Environmental & Life Magazine, in the wood classification system in Vietnam, purple heart wood is classified as Group I – a group of precious woods that are extracted and used. Group I includes woods with high economic value, as well as high durability, great hardness, low shrinkage, and resistance to termite attacks, making it particularly rare. In Vietnam, all types of purple heart wood are prohibited from being exploited, so products made from this wood currently on the market mainly originate from Laos, Cambodia, and South Africa. Purple heart falls into Group I, making it quite expensive.
Purple heart is a type of wood with a high price. (Photo: Pinterest).
Due to the high price of purple heart wood, it is often counterfeited by other wood products because its grain and color closely resemble many other types of wood on the market. The price of purple heart wood is approximately 11.99 USD/Board Feet (about 5000 USD/1m3), equivalent to 121 million VND/1m3.
