It is often grown there in 5,000 acre balsa tree plantations with on-site milling and production facilities. It is not only the lightest, but also the softest and most porous wood in the lumber industry. The wood color is pale white to pale pinkish white or pale grey. It has a straight open grain with noticeable pores. Balsa has excellent strength and stability in relation to its weight.
Balsa is very easy to work and sand.
It is best cut with very sharp hand or power tools and knives. It takes nails and screws, but due to its softness, gluing is more effective and permanent. Balsa is almost never painted or stained as it absorbs most of what is applied. The attributes of hardness, denseness, and heavyness are typically the most important aspects of hardwoods such as hickory, mahogany, and teak. In fact, however, there is an equally important market for very soft, very lightweight, very porous wood.