True Rosewoods

“Rosewood” is used loosely in the lumber trade, but true rosewoods belong to the genus Dalbergia. The genus contains roughly 270–300 species, although only a small number produce commercially important timber. The Wood Database’s Dalbergia genus guideia lists the principal commercial species.

Central and South American Rosewoods

1. Brazilian Rosewood — Dalbergia nigra
   Also called Bahia or Rio rosewood. Colors range from chocolate brown and reddish brown to nearly purple, usually with dramatic black streaks and spiderweb figure. It is the classic true rosewood and is native to Brazil. 
2. Cocobolo — Dalbergia retusa
   Freshly cut heartwood can display vivid orange, red, yellow, purple and dark brown bands. It normally darkens considerably with age. Excellent for handles, pens, bottle stoppers and ornamental turnings, but the dust is a strong sensitizer.
3. Honduran Rosewood — Dalbergia stevensonii
   Pinkish brown to purple-brown heartwood with darker stripes. The grain is generally straight, and the wood is exceptionally dense, stable and resonant. Frequently used for marimbas, musical instruments and fine turnings.
4. Yucatan Rosewood — Dalbergia tucurensis
   Also marketed as Panama or Nicaraguan rosewood. Usually cinnamon brown to russet brown with occasional darker streaks. Its figure is generally quieter than cocobolo or Brazilian rosewood.
5. Amazon Rosewood — Dalbergia spruceana
   Reddish or orangish brown with irregular dark streaks. It can strongly resemble Brazilian rosewood but is generally less dramatic and less familiar in the lumber trade.
6. Granadillo Rosewood — Dalbergia granadillo
   A Central American true rosewood that can display reddish brown, purple-brown and nearly black striping. Be careful with the name: lumber sold simply as “granadillo” may belong to other genera.
7. Camatillo — Dalbergia congestiflora
   Also called Mexican kingwood or Mexican rosewood. Often exhibits rich violet, magenta, reddish purple and dark brown coloration. It is dense, fine-textured and normally available only in small pieces.
8. Kingwood — Dalbergia cearensis
   A Brazilian Dalbergia with a violet-brown background and numerous fine black stripes. Although usually called kingwood instead of rosewood, it is botanically a true Dalbergia.
9. Brazilian Tulipwood — Dalbergia frutescens
   Traditionally also identified in the trade as Dalbergia decipularis. It has cream, pink, salmon, rose-red and purple striping. Pieces are normally small, making it especially suitable for pens, handles, inlays and miniature turnings.

Asian Rosewoods

10. East Indian Rosewood — Dalbergia latifolia
    One of the most important commercial rosewoods. Heartwood ranges from golden brown and reddish brown to deep purple-brown, frequently with dark stripes. The grain may be straight, interlocked or attractively wavy.
11. Sissoo — Dalbergia sissoo
    Also called North Indian rosewood or sheesham. Usually golden brown to dark reddish brown with darker veins. Its grain is coarser and its appearance is generally less dramatic than East Indian rosewood.
12. Siamese Rosewood — Dalbergia cochinchinensis
    Also called Thai, Vietnamese or Cambodian rosewood. It has medium to dark reddish-brown heartwood with brown or black streaks and pale, sharply contrasting sapwood.
13. Burmese Rosewood — Dalbergia oliveri
    Also sold as Asian or Laos rosewood. Heartwood can be orange-brown, reddish brown, burgundy or purple-brown with dark streaking. The wood is heavy, hard and capable of taking a high polish.
14. Burmese Blackwood — Dalbergia cultrata
    Usually dark brown to nearly black with subtle purple, red or burgundy tones. The grain may be straight or irregular. Like African blackwood, it is more commonly called blackwood even though it belongs to Dalbergia.
15. Huanghuali — Dalbergia odorifera
    Also called fragrant rosewood or Chinese rosewood. Golden orange to reddish brown with dark, flowing lines and occasional ghost-face figure. Genuine old-growth material is extremely scarce and valuable.

African and Madagascar Dalbergia

16. Madagascar Rosewood — Dalbergia baronii
    Usually orange-brown to reddish brown with dark brown or black lines. Exceptional pieces can show spiderweb, landscape or ink-line figure similar to Brazilian rosewood.
17. Madagascar Rosewood Group — several Dalbergia species
    Lumber marketed under this broad name can include D. baronii, D. greveana, D. madagascariensis and D. monticola. Color and figure vary greatly, so the common name does not guarantee a single species.
18. Bois de Rose — Dalbergia maritima
    An exceptionally colorful Madagascar species. Fresh heartwood can be vivid magenta, violet or purple-red, eventually darkening toward deep purple-brown. “Bois de rose” translates directly to “rosewood,” but it should not be confused with D. baronii.
19. African Blackwood — Dalbergia melanoxylon
    Heartwood ranges from extremely dark purple-brown to nearly jet black, usually with narrow pale sapwood. It is botanically a Dalbergia and therefore related to true rosewoods, although it is normally marketed as blackwood.

Woods Called Rosewood That Are Not True Rosewoods

The following trade names do not belong to Dalbergia:

• Bolivian or Santos Rosewood: Machaerium scleroxylon
• Patagonian Rosewood: usually Anadenanthera colubrina
• Caribbean Rosewood: commonly Metopium brownei
• Australian Rosewood: several unrelated Australian species
• New Guinea Rosewood: usually Pterocarpus indicus
• African Rosewood: may refer to several Pterocarpus or other unrelated species
• Ziricote: Cordia dodecandra
• Bubinga: Guibourtia species
• Pau Rosa: often Bobgunnia fistuloides or another unrelated species
• Morado: generally Machaerium species

These woods may resemble rosewood and can be excellent turning materials, but they should be described as rosewood alternatives, not true rosewoods.