Collection: Wood Type Cherry (Brazilian Cherry)

What Is Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring?

Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring, known botanically as Jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril), is a premium exotic hardwood harvested across Central and South America, from southern Mexico down through Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. Despite the name, it isn't related to the domestic cherry trees grown in North America. The "cherry" label stuck because aged Jatoba develops the same warm, reddish-brown tone people associate with classic stained cherry furniture.

What sets it apart is the combination of dramatic color and serious toughness. Brazilian Cherry carries a Janka hardness rating of 2,350, making it nearly twice as hard as domestic Red Oak (about 1,290) and one of the most dent-resistant flooring species available. That blend of exotic beauty and everyday durability is exactly why it remains one of the most popular hardwood imports in the United States.

At Hardwoods4Less, you'll find Brazilian Cherry in both solid and engineered constructions and in a range of widths and grades to suit your project, budget, and subfloor.

The Color Story: How Brazilian Cherry Ages

If there's one thing to understand before you buy Brazilian Cherry, it's this: the floor you install is not the final color you'll live with. Jatoba is highly photosensitive. Freshly milled boards range from a light salmon, tan, or orange-brown, and then darken naturally as they're exposed to light and air.

Over the first several months, oxidation deepens the wood into the signature rich, lustrous reddish-brown, often with darker grain streaks that give each board character. This is completely normal and is part of the wood's appeal. A few practical things to know:

• It takes time. Full color development generally happens over the first few months, with the most rapid change up front.
• Light drives the change. Areas under rugs or furniture darken more slowly, so rotate rugs and rearrange furnishings during the first months for an even tone.
• Samples are already aged. Showroom and sample pieces have usually finished darkening, so your floor will catch up to that look rather than match it on day one.

The Benefits of Brazilian Cherry Flooring

Exceptional hardness and durability

With a Janka score of 2,350, Brazilian Cherry shrugs off the dents, scratches, and wear that show up fast on softer woods. It's an excellent fit for busy households, kids, pets, and high-traffic spaces like entryways, hallways, and living rooms.

Rich, unmistakable beauty

Deep reddish-brown color, fine grain, and natural luster give Brazilian Cherry a warmth that few species can match. The color variation and streaking add depth and make every floor one of a kind.

Design versatility

From rustic to contemporary, traditional to modern and eclectic, Brazilian Cherry anchors a room without fighting the rest of your decor. It pairs beautifully with both warm and cool palettes.

Long service life and refinishing potential

Solid Brazilian Cherry can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its lifetime, and engineered versions with a thick enough wear layer can typically be refinished at least once. Properly cared for, these floors last for decades.

Strong value

You're getting exotic looks and best-in-class hardness at a price that competes with many domestic species, especially when you buy direct online.

Solid vs. Engineered Brazilian Cherry

Both deliver the same gorgeous Jatoba surface. The right choice comes down to your subfloor and environment.

Solid Brazilian Cherry

Milled from a single piece of hardwood, typically 3/4" thick. It can be refinished many times, making it a true lifetime floor. Best installed at or above grade over a wood subfloor in a climate-controlled space.

Engineered Brazilian Cherry

A real Jatoba veneer bonded to a stable plywood or high-density core. The layered construction resists movement from humidity and temperature swings better than solid wood, which makes engineered the smarter pick for basements, condos, concrete slabs, and over radiant heat. Choose a thicker wear layer if you want the option to refinish later.

Where to Use Brazilian Cherry

• High-traffic areas: entryways, hallways, stairs, living and family rooms.
• Homes with kids and pets: its hardness resists the daily abuse that dents softer floors.
• Whole-home installs: a consistent, dramatic look from room to room.
• Below-grade and slab applications: choose engineered Brazilian Cherry for stability.

Bright, sun-filled rooms are great for Brazilian Cherry too. Just plan for that natural darkening and use window treatments to manage direct UV.

Care and Maintenance

Brazilian Cherry is tough, but a few simple habits keep it looking its best for the long haul.

Everyday care

• Sweep with a soft-bristle broom or dust mop, or vacuum with a soft brush or bare-floor attachment to lift abrasive grit.
• Wipe up spills promptly with a soft, dry or barely-damp cloth.
• Place walk-off mats at entrances and felt pads under furniture legs.

Deeper cleaning

• Use only a pH-neutral cleaner made for prefinished hardwood floors.
• Damp-mop, never wet-mop. Standing water can seep into seams and cause swelling or cupping.
• Avoid steam mops, wax, oil soaps, vinegar, ammonia, and all-purpose cleaners, which can dull or damage the finish.

Protecting color and finish

• During the first few months, rotate rugs and shift furniture so the floor darkens evenly.
• Use blinds, shades, or UV-filtering window film in very sunny rooms to moderate exposure.
• Add area rugs in high-wear zones and felt glides under chairs that move often.
• Keep indoor humidity in a stable range (roughly 35 to 55 percent) to minimize natural seasonal movement.

Installation and Acclimation Tips

• Acclimate first. Let the flooring sit in the installation space for the manufacturer's recommended period so it adjusts to your home's humidity.
• Mind the density. Jatoba is hard and heavy, so nail-down installs usually require pre-drilling and the right fasteners.
• Match method to subfloor. Nail or staple for solid over wood subfloors; glue-down or floating for engineered over concrete.
• Leave expansion gaps at walls and vertical obstructions, and always follow your specific product's installation guide.

Not sure which construction or install method fits your space? Try our Floor Finder or browse the Learning Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring?

Brazilian Cherry, also known as Jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril), is a luxurious exotic hardwood native to Central and South America. It's prized for its rich reddish-brown color, fine grain, and exceptional hardness, and it naturally darkens with exposure to light. It works beautifully in both residential and commercial flooring.

Is Brazilian Cherry actually a cherry tree?

No. Brazilian Cherry is the species Jatoba and isn't botanically related to North American cherry. The name comes from its aged color, which resembles stained domestic cherry. Always look for "Jatoba" or the scientific name to confirm what you're buying.

How hard is Brazilian Cherry flooring?

Very hard. It rates 2,350 on the Janka hardness scale, nearly twice as hard as domestic Red Oak (about 1,290). That makes it one of the most dent- and wear-resistant flooring species available and ideal for high-traffic areas.

Does Brazilian Cherry change color over time?

Yes. Jatoba is photosensitive, so freshly milled boards start light (salmon to orange-brown) and darken to a deep reddish-brown over the first several months as they're exposed to light and air. Rotating rugs and furniture early on helps the floor darken evenly.

What's the difference between solid and engineered Brazilian Cherry?

Solid is one piece of Jatoba (usually 3/4") that can be refinished many times and is best at or above grade. Engineered bonds a real Jatoba veneer to a stable core, resisting humidity changes better, which makes it the better choice for basements, slabs, condos, and radiant heat.

Can Brazilian Cherry flooring be refinished?

Yes. Solid Brazilian Cherry can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its life. Engineered versions can be refinished too, as long as the top veneer is thick enough (generally 2 to 3 mm or more). Check the manufacturer's specs before refinishing engineered wood.

Is Brazilian Cherry good for homes with kids and pets?

It's one of the best choices. Its extreme hardness resists the dents and scratches that come with pets, kids, and busy households, and with simple maintenance it holds up beautifully for years.

How do I clean Brazilian Cherry floors?

Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove grit, then damp-mop with a pH-neutral hardwood cleaner. Avoid excess water, steam mops, wax, and harsh or acidic cleaners, all of which can damage the finish.

Talk to a Real Flooring Expert

Our U.S.-based team is here to help you choose the right Brazilian Cherry for your home, answer questions about solid vs. engineered, and walk you through samples, sizing, and shipping. Call us at 888-705-7555. And if you hear a bark, that's just Blu, our shop dog. Ready to shop? Browse our Brazilian Cherry collection below.