Cocobolo: From Orange to Deep Red

Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) belongs to the same Dalbergia genus as rosewoods. It grows in Central America, from Mexico to Panama. It is characterized by black streaks running across a red ground, and it feels surprisingly heavy for its size when held.

Cocobolo live-edge slab (No. 5901). Black streaks run up and down along a long split.

The Same Tree, Different Colors

Cocobolo’s color is not fixed. A freshly cut surface has a strong orange cast, which deepens into a rich red over time. Even among half-log sections from the same cocobolo tree, one may show a bright orange cut surface while another appears dark reddish brown. The outer-bark side remains rough and black, making the inner color stand out even more.

A half-log section with a bright orange cut surface (No. 5775) and a half-log section with a dark outer surface (No. 6560).

Patterns Shaped by Knots and Splits

Cocobolo logs often retain knots and voids. Around a knot, the grain wraps in circles to form a swirl, while spaces left hollow as the tree grew remain as large holes or forks in the middle of a board. When these areas are left intact rather than cut away, a single board becomes a sculptural form. A turning blank called “Ghost Face” also comes from grain wrapped around a knot in this way.

Grain wrapped around a large knot (No. 4641) and a board split into three branches at one end (No. 5271).

A void in the center of a 2,200 mm live-edge slab (No. 5902). It can be filled with resin or left open and used as is.

In Chunks and Whole Sections

Some cocobolo remains as solid chunks rather than boards. One side of a neatly squared block retains a space where the wood was missing, bringing a smooth red surface and a rough interior together in a single piece. A hollow log section, rough on the outside and red inside, becomes an object simply by standing on its own.

A block retaining a void (No. 6035) and a hollow log section (No. 3913).

What Remains Even in Small Pieces

Because cocobolo is heavy and hard, it is widely used for small objects such as knife handles, pens, and billiard cues. Even when cut into palm-sized round slices, the contrast remains: orange heartwood encircled by a dark border. The colors and streaks seen in large boards can be read in their entirety even in a small piece.

Small cocobolo round slice (No. 6197). Orange heartwood and a dark border.

Woodway’s cocobolo comes in many forms, from live-edge slabs to turning blanks, half-log sections, log sections, and round slices. Each piece is one of a kind, so the same pattern will never appear again.