Purpleheart (also called “amaranth”) has a distinctive purplish or violet-colored heartwood. When freshly cut, the heartwood is brown, but with exposure it assumes the purplish hue which darkens with time. Use of a UV inhibiting finish will reduce the darkening of the wood after it’s freshly sawn or planed.
The wood is very heavy, averaging about 52 pounds per cubic foot. Purpleheart is moderately difficult to work because of its high density, but smooth surfaces are readily obtainable. Purpleheart is utilized in the form of sliced veneer for decorative inlay work and in solid form for turned items.
