Brazilian Cherry - also known as Jatobá - is an immensely popular choice among hardwood floor buyers. And for good reason: Brazilian Cherry comes in a range of beautiful colors and patterns that give a lift to any home. Burgundy, salmon, and dark browns are just some of the color options. And Brazilian Cherry's black striped grain pattern also makes it distinctive.

Another appealing feature of Brazilian Cherry flooring is its strength. On the Janka Hardness Scale, which measures the density of hardwood flooring, Brazilian Cherry has a score of 2820 (with 0 being the softest and 4000 being the hardest). This is a very favorable rating for hardwood floors. If you want durability, Brazilian Cherry flooring is a good choice.

It's interesting to note that Brazilian Cherry hardwood is actually not a cherry wood. And it also has other aliases besides Jatobá, including Courbaril, South American Cherry, Brazilian copal, Guapinol and Locust. It grows in Mexico, Peru, the Caribbean and Brazil. The trees are known for their bright green leaves and red flowers, as well as their edible fruit. These trees grow to around 120 feet in height with trunks between two and six feet thick.

Due to its high density, Brazilian Cherry can be difficult to saw. If cutting or shaping it, it's recommended that you saw at an angle. You may need tools that are very sharp and perhaps even steam, which helps in bending wood.

For more information on Brazilian Cherry, other exotic hardwoods, and hardwood flooring in general, visit FindAnyFloor's hardwood species section.