Wood Species Guide

Dragon Wood

Terminalia oblonga

Also called: Dragonwood, Surá, Guayabón, Guayabo de Montaña

Dragon wood is the slab-trade name for surá (Terminalia oblonga), a hard Central American wood with olive-green and brown bands that look almost like reptile skin. It is hard, heavy and good-looking enough for one-of-a-kind dining tables.
ImportHardwoodTropical Slab Woods
Good forTabletops & SlabsRiver Tables

About the name “Dragon Wood”

"Dragon wood" is a Central American slab-trade name rather than a botanical one. Our Dragon Wood slabs carry our supplier's "SUR" code for surá, the Costa Rican name for Terminalia oblonga, and other importers sell the same species under the same name. Unrelated items such as aquarium driftwood and the dragon's blood tree also use the word "dragon", so don't confuse the two.

What Dragon Wood looks like

Freshly milled heartwood is a grayish brown that dries to a deeper brown-gray, laced with bands of olive green and darker brown. Sapwood is a pale yellowish gray. The banding is what gives the wood its reptile-like nickname.

Grain and texture

Grain is straight to interlocked with a medium to fine texture. Flat-sawn faces show wavy, swirling bands of color.

Working Dragon Wood: planing, cutting and gluing

Hard and heavy, so expect sharp tools to dull faster than with domestic woods. Interlocked grain can tear out in the planer; a CNC flattening pass and sanding give a better result. It glues well with clean, freshly sanded surfaces. Pre-drill every screw.

Finishing Dragon Wood: oil, film finishes and epoxy

Takes oil and film finishes well and polishes to a smooth, low-luster surface. Oil deepens the green and brown banding nicely. For epoxy, the dense surface takes a seal coat quickly and releases few bubbles; give fills a full cure before you sand flush.

Durability, stability and Florida humidity

The wood has a reputation in its home range for strength in construction and flooring, but it is only moderately resistant to decay and is susceptible to termites, so keep it indoors. Its density means it moves with the seasons, so Florida buyers should let it acclimate in AC, finish both faces and use slotted fasteners on the base.

Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop

Dragon wood is the slab people walk over to when they want something nobody else has. The olive and brown banding looks different on every board, and it's hard enough for a busy dining or kitchen table. Our slabs run long, which suits bar tops and harvest tables. It is heavy, so plan for a solid base and a couple of strong helpers on delivery day. Clear or smoky gray epoxy suits the cool tones better than bright colors.

Common uses for Dragon Wood

Furniture, live-edge tables, flooring, decorative veneer, general and exterior construction, boatbuilding.

Sustainability and CITES status

Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Safety and toxicity

Our toxicity rating ModerateWhat the ratings mean
  • Skin irritation
  • Respiratory / asthma

Few reports for this species, and none beyond normal dust irritation. Some other Terminalia woods are known to cause rashes and breathing problems, so we suggest a little extra care.

In the shop
Dust collection + mask when sanding; gloves for sensitive skin
Food contact
Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils

General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.

Few reactions are reported for this species, but some related woods in the same genus can irritate skin and airways. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding, and gloves if your skin is sensitive.

Wood toxicity and dust safety guide: every species compared

Dragon Wood in stock now

Live edge slabs in stock (1)

Want to see them in person? Book a slab & lumber visit.

Similar woods: Tropical Slab Woods

See the Tropical Slab Woods group guide

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