New Guinea Rosewood — Pterocarpus indicus
A distinctive rose-toned hardwood from Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and across SE Asia. Class 2 above-ground durability with exceptional dimensional stability (T:R ratio just 2:1) and a fragrant, easily-worked heartwood. Highly prized for decking, cladding, furniture and musical instruments.
New Guinea Rosewood products
Premium decking, cladding, lining, joinery and screens in distinctive rose-toned hardwood. Class 2 above-ground durability with low shrinkage — exceptional dimensional stability for boarded applications.
Technical ReferenceSummary
New Guinea Rosewood (Pterocarpus indicus) is native to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Sabah, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. The heartwood ranges from golden brown to a dark blood-red, often highly figured, with a fragrant odour when freshly cut. It has been a prized furniture and decorative hardwood for over a century, with the highly figured burr form (known as 'Amboyna wood' from the Indonesian island of Ambon) commanding premium prices.
Heartwood is classified Class 2 — Durable above ground (15–40 years per WoodSolutions, AS 5604). Density 593 kg/m³ — moderate for a tropical hardwood. Strength SD5 seasoned (S4 unseasoned), Joint JD3 seasoned (J4 unseasoned), F-grade F17 seasoned. Sapwood is Lyctus-susceptible; heartwood is termite-resistant. Exceptional dimensional stability (tangential 2.0%, radial 1.0% — among the lowest of any commercial hardwood). BCA Group 4.
Class 2 of 4
Character & Appearance
Heartwood ranges from golden brown to deep blood-red, often highly figured with darker streaks. Sapwood is pale yellow and up to 60mm wide, clearly demarcated. Some trees produce highly figured burrs which are sold as 'Amboyna wood' — used in veneer form for furniture, musical instruments and decorative panels.
Freshly cut wood has a fragrant odour that fades in service. Grain is straight to slightly interlocked, with a moderately fine and even texture. Machines, glues and finishes well, holds fixings reliably. The combination of moderate density, low shrinkage and fine texture makes it one of the most user-friendly tropical hardwoods to work with.
Species & General Properties
Mechanical & Physical Properties
| Property | Unseasoned | Seasoned |
|---|---|---|
| Density | — | 593 kg/m³ |
| Janka hardness | 4.3 kN | 4.3 kN |
| Modulus of rupture (bending) | 73 MPa | 92 MPa |
| Modulus of elasticity | 10 GPa | 12 GPa |
| Maximum crushing strength | 37 MPa | 59 MPa |
| Strength Group | S4 | SD5 |
| Stress Grade (typical, Structural No.1) | F14 | F17 |
| Joint Group | J4 | JD3 |
| Shrinkage (Total) | Value |
|---|---|
| Tangential shrinkage | 2.00 % |
| Radial shrinkage | 1.00 % |
Recommended Applications
New Guinea Rosewood's exceptional dimensional stability, distinctive rose-toned heartwood and easy workability make it equally at home in fine furniture, premium decking and architectural cladding.
Specification Notes
- Natural durability ratings apply to heartwood only. Sapwood is Lyctus-susceptible.
- Recommended spec wording: "New Guinea Rosewood (Pterocarpus indicus) heartwood — AS 5604 Class 2 above-ground durability, Strength Group SD5 seasoned, Joint Group JD3 seasoned, F-grade F17 seasoned typical."
- Dimensional stability: among the best of any commercial hardwood (T:R ratio ~2:1). Excellent choice for exposed boarded applications.
- Lyctus susceptibility: sapwood susceptible. Specify heartwood-only or Lyctus-treated material for internal applications.
- Termite resistance: heartwood is naturally resistant.
- Sourcing: Kosny sources New Guinea Rosewood from legal and traceable supply chains in PNG and SE Asia.
References
Speccing New Guinea Rosewood for a project?New Guinea Rosewood for a project?
Decking, cladding, lining boards, joinery, screens — premium PNG and SE Asian hardwood with exceptional dimensional stability. Talk to us about quantity and lead times.