Botanical Name: vitex cofassus
Other Names: Vasa, New Guinea Teak
Source location: Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea
Stability: Durable
Density: Approximately 800 kg/m3
Appearance: Vitex is a durable hardwood with a pale yellowish to creamy-grey appearance. Texture is fine and slightly lustrous with an even grain. When freshly cut the timber has a leathery odour and the timber is greasy to the touch.
Sustainability:Vitex is sourced from low-impact, village-based operations in the Solomon Islands.
Finishes: Vitex is a very dense hardwood and thus does not suit most timber finishes. Our experience has shown that the finishes do not penetrate into the hardwood thus resulting in poor adhesion and a tendency to ‘sheet’ off within a few months. Our recommendation is to leave the timber unfinished allowing it to age naturally.
Leaching: Vitex has minimal leaching in wet weather so some care should be taken when placing near existing surfaces i.e. concrete. To lessen the effects of the leaching, you can lightly hose the furniture down and leave for 2 days.
