Wood Species Guide
Ziricote
Cordia dodecandra
Also called: Siricote, Ciricote, Sericote
What Ziricote looks like
Dark brown with greenish or purplish tones and irregular black lines that form a pattern often called spider-webbing or landscape figure. The sapwood is a creamy yellow and makes a dramatic edge on live-edge pieces.
Grain and texture
Straight to slightly irregular grain with a medium texture and good natural luster.
Working Ziricote: planing, cutting and gluing
Generally pleasant to machine and turn. It is prone to checking and splitting during drying, so many pieces come with small cracks that need stabilizing or filling. Glues well. Sharp tools keep the dark figure crisp.
Finishing Ziricote: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Oil makes the figure pop and is the most common choice. Epoxy is a natural fit for filling the drying checks: seal coat first, then fill. It takes film finishes well.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Durable heartwood. Its biggest weakness is checking, which happens in drying rather than in service. Once stable, keep it in an air-conditioned space and finish all faces to avoid new cracks in Florida's humidity swings.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Ziricote is a showpiece wood for small work: guitar sets, box lids, knife scales and turnings. Small live-edge slabs with the cream sapwood intact look striking with a clear epoxy fill in the cracks. Plan on stabilizing checks before final flattening. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Ziricote
Guitar backs and sides, veneer, boxes, turnings, knife handles, small furniture accents.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Supply is limited and pieces are usually small.
Safety and toxicity
- Sensitizer (allergy builds with exposure)
- Skin irritation
Few reactions are reported for ziricote itself. People already allergic to rosewoods, cocobolo or similar woods may react to it, and a related Cordia wood is a known rare skin sensitizer.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask; gloves if you already react to rosewoods
- 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, but people sensitive to rosewoods or bocote may react. Use dust collection.
Ziricote in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Ziricote listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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