What is rubberwood?
The Wood Guide · The wood register
Broadleaf wood · referenceRubberwood
The tree that first yields latex for years and then furniture wood. A by-product that changed the furniture industry — with the same limitation as any by-product.
- Hevea brasiliensis
- After 25 to 30 years of latex
- Also called parawood
Rubber treeHevea brasiliensis
Rubberwood in brief
From the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), planted in Southeast Asia for latex production. Also called parawood.
A rubber tree yields latex for twenty-five to thirty years. After that the yield drops and the plantation is replanted. In the past the wood was burnt; today it goes to the furniture industry.
That makes rubberwood one of the most circular furniture woods there is: the tree was already there, it has already been harvested once for something else, and no natural forest was felled for it. The wood itself is pale cream to light yellow, moderately hard and very even in structure.
Because the raw material is a by-product. The plantation makes its money from latex; the wood is extra income when it is replanted. That puts the price well below wood from forests managed specifically for timber.
- Botanical
- Hevea brasiliensis
- Other name
- parawood
- Origin
- plantations in Southeast Asia
- Source
- trees after 25 to 30 years of latex production
- Colour
- pale cream to light yellow
- Durability
- low — indoors only
To be fair: rubberwood is very susceptible to fungi and insects. Freshly sawn, it has to be treated immediately, or it develops blue stain and mould within days. It has no place outdoors, and even indoors a damp cellar is not a good spot.
25 to 30 years of latex
Rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) are planted in Southeast Asia for latex. A tree yields for twenty-five to thirty years; after that the yield drops and the plantation is renewed.
Click a chapter or use the arrows · timelines drawn for illustration.
What characterises rubberwood
Pale and even
Cream to light yellow with a very even structure and little contrast between growth rings — it takes stain evenly.
Moderately hard
Hard enough for tabletops and cabinets, comparable with beech.
Easy to work
It saws, sands and glues nicely, and holds screws well.
Not durable
Very susceptible to fungi and insects. Indoors only, and dry.
What rubberwood is used for
| Use | Suitable? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor furniture | Excellent | Affordable, even, finishes well |
| Kitchen worktops | Good | As a stave-laminated top; finish it well |
| Toys | Good | Can be finished smooth and splinter-free |
| Cabinets and drawers | Excellent | Stable and affordable |
| Outdoor furniture | Unsuitable | Not durable |
| Damp rooms | Not recommended | Prone to mould |
Unlike many 'sustainable' claims, this one holds up: every cubic metre of rubberwood comes from a tree that was already standing and was going to be cleared anyway. Compare it with mango wood, which comes about in exactly the same way.
Frequently asked questions about rubberwood
What is rubberwood?
The wood of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), harvested after the tree has yielded latex for twenty-five to thirty years and the plantation is being replanted.
Is rubberwood sustainable?
In terms of origin, excellent — it is a by-product of latex production. In terms of lifespan, no: it is susceptible to fungi and insects and belongs indoors.
Can rubberwood be used outdoors?
Why is rubberwood so cheap?
Because it is a by-product. The plantation earns from latex; the wood is extra income when the trees are replanted.
Rubberwood in perspective
A second life for a tree that has already given its first.
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Hevea brasiliensis — Rojypala, Public domain · Hevea brasiliensis — Dinkum, CC0 · Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Hevea brasiliensis — Vis M, CC BY-SA 4.0