The heartwood colour of Canarywood can vary a fair amount, from a pale yellow-orange to a darker reddish brown, usually with darker streaks throughout. Pale yellow sapwood is sharply demarcated from heartwood. Colour tends to darken and homogenize with age. It has typically straight grain, but can be irregular or wild on some pieces. Uniform fine to medium texture with good natural lustre. Canarywood is rated as very durable in regard to decay resistance, as well as being resistant to termite and marine borer attack.

Canarrywood’s janka hardness rating of 1520, place it among mid range durable hardwood’s. It is about twelve percent harder than white oak, about sixty percent harder than black american cherry, approximately seven percent softer than wenge and about fifty percent softer than santos mahogany rated at 2200.

Canarywood has a distinct scent when being worked. Easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though some tear out can occur during planning on pieces with wild or irregular grain. Good dimensional stability. Turns, glues and finishes well. It is commonly used for construction lumber, railroad crossties, flooring, veneers, boatbuilding, furniture, cabinetry, and turned items.