Teak

tropical trees · durable wood · boat building

Tropical hardwood tree. Teak grows in mixed hardwood forests in tropical places and belongs to the Lamiaceae family, the same family that includes many plants we use every day.

Sweet white flowers. Teak trees produce small, fragrant white flowers arranged in dense clusters at the tips of branches, and each flower has both male and female parts, so they can make their own seeds.

Huge papery leaves. The large leaves of teak trees are hairy on their bottom surface, which helps protect the tree in tropical climates.

Super water resistant. Teak wood has a special leather-like smell when freshly cut and is extremely durable and resistant to water, making it the perfect choice for building boats, decks, and outdoor furniture that lasts for decades.

Valuable for carving. Beyond boats and furniture, teak wood is also treasured for creating beautiful carved items, furniture turnings, and all sorts of small decorative projects.