Rubberwood is a light-colored medium-density tropical hardwood obtained from the Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), usually from trees grown in rubber plantations. It is commonly advertised as an “environmentally friendly” wood, as it makes use of plantation rubber trees that had already served a useful function.  The wood from the trees is light in color and straight grained making it easy to stain and match in woodworking (Picture above: Example of Rubberwood finished product).

Currently, rubber plantation trees are generally harvested for wood after they complete the latex producing cycle, when they are 25 to 30 years old. When the latex yields become extremely low, the trees are then felled, and new trees are usually planted. This makes rubberwood ‘eco-friendly’ in that the wood is harvested from a renewable source (Picture above: Rubber plantation).