Looking for new floors? Have you decided wood flooring is the best investment for your home? How about looking at Jatoba flooring?

Jatoba flooring, also known as Brazilian cherry flooring, is a popular choice in exotic hardwood floors. Jatoba doesn’t actually come from a tree; instead, it comes from a 130 foot legume. Like other legumes – think peanuts and beans and peas – jatoba produces seed pods that have been a staple food in communities for centuries throughout Central America, southern Mexico, northers South America and the Caribbean.

Jatoba is different than the cherry wood trees you’ll find throughout the gardens of North America. Jatoba is known as Brazilian cherry wood because of the deep red color produced in the wood. Jatoba is significantly harder and more durable than its American cherry wood counterpart, and will also have a darker, deeper and richer color.

Why jatoba? In addition to its rich color, it also is a more stable wood (even compared with the ever-popular red oak) and has a hardness rating far beyond its red oak counterpart. If you’re looking for longevity, jatoba is a good choice.

The reason the jatoba grows so high and is so durable is because of the resin it produces. Tree resin, also known as amber, is a sap that hardens as strong as stone. Jatoba is one of the world’s most pure sources of yellow amber, that has a clear golden color that makes it usable in a variety of ways. This resin is fast producing, meaning the wood from this legume transforms from bean to hardwood in only a few years … also making it a sustainable building material for those interested in moving to a green option.

Jatoba’s color stands out above all, but it is important to remember that its deep red tones and smooth grain will have a lot of color variation throughout. Looking at a few planks will not capture the true look and feel you’ll have when the entire floor is laid and put into place.

A jatoba floor continues to change over time. Unless you stain the planks, it can take as long as two years for the final color to deepen and finalize. And if you add rugs or make other changes to the floor soon after installation, you can expect even more color variations around the additions.

Think jatoba might be the perfect choice for your home? With its stunning natural appearance and beautiful one of a kind appearance, you’ll love the look for years to come.