Ipe is a hardwood from Brazilian rainforests that has received lots of attention in the past couple of decades. Why? For one thing, it's as hard—or harder—than nails (it's been known to bend nails). Ipe is so dense that it often needs to be pre-drilled before pieces are connected. Some compare its strength to that of steel.

Other attributes of ipe wood include:

• It can last more than 25 years outdoors.
• Eco-friendly; 100 percent natural wood
• Mold, fire, weather, and pest-resistant
• Resists surface scratches
• Three times harder than cedar
• One of the densest hardwoods, it sinks in water.
• It has the same fire rating as steel and concrete, making it a more fire-resistant choice than softwoods.
• It has high concentrations of tannic acid, which makes it resistant to rot, insects, and fungi. Because of this, stainless fasteners are recommended.
• The terms ipe lumber or ipe wood are often clustered with other tropical hardwoods that share similar characteristics, especially for outdoor furniture. These woods include teak and shorea.
• Quite simply, Brazilian ipe looks good just about anywhere outdoors.

Ipe refers to not one, but seven different tree species within the genus Tabebuia, all of which are native to Central and South America. Also known as trumpet trees, ipes can reach more than 100 feet high and up to 50 feet wide (at the top, with branches and leaves), and are supported by narrow trunks that are 2 to 4 feet in diameter. Tabebuias can be deciduous, evergreen, and semievergreen, and some drop their leaves before producing spectacular clusters of flowers in colors that include white, golden yellow, lavender, bright pink, and red.