Stone
Petrified Wood
Also called fossil wood stone
By Mike Elmira
TL;DR, Petrified Wood
Petrified wood is exactly what it sounds like, ancient wood turned to stone, so it carries wood-like grain but behaves like rock. It is inert and heavy, giving you the look of driftwood with none of the tannins, floating or decay. It is a premium hardscape and priced like one, but for a scape where you want wood tones without staining the water, it is unbeatable.
What it looks like
Rock with visible wood grain and bark-like texture, in browns and greys, hard and dense.
What it does to your water
Inert. No tannins, no pH or hardness shift. It gives the wood look while leaving the water completely alone.
How to prepare it
Rinse and it is ready. No soaking or boiling, since it will not float or leach.
Using it in a scape
Use it where you want driftwood character in clear water, or to blend a stone-and-wood scape. It sinks straight away, which makes placement easy.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Does petrified wood release tannins?
No. It is fully mineralised stone, so it gives you the wood look with none of the tannins, staining or floating that real driftwood brings.