Eastern Brazilian native tree with bright red heartwood, historically the most prized source of red textile dye in Europe — and the source of the name of the country Brazil. Now critically endangered in the wild.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 10–12 | −1.1 °C to 15.6 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H1c | 5 °C to 10 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 9 | −1 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 5–7 | 5 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Red dye (brazilin) extracted from chips of the heartwood — the principal red dye of the early European colonial textile trade
- The country of Brazil takes its name from this tree, not the other way around — the early Portuguese traders named the coast for the wood
- WARNING: CITES Appendix II — listed as endangered, international trade is regulated and most countries require permits; purchase only certified plantation-grown material for any modern use
- Also the traditional wood for violin and cello bows — modern luthiers increasingly use certified plantation stock or alternatives
- Not reliably hardy outdoors in Canada — Canadian zone values shown represent the system maximum and do not imply garden cultivation north of the warmest coastal pockets.
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Brazilwood against your zones