Australian red cedar
Australian red cedar has a slow to moderate growth rate preferring 1000 mm+ of annual rainfall and deep alluvial loam to clay loam soils. Requires shelter from sun and cold conditions. It is an attractive deciduous tree.
Australian red cedar |
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Botanical name |
Toona ciliata var. australis |
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Growth rate in preferred conditions |
Slow to moderate |
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Estimated rotation length (yr) in preferred conditions to produce 60 cm diameter at breast height |
40-50 |
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Preferred annual rainfall (mm/yr) |
1000+ |
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Minimum rainfall (mm/yr) |
750 |
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Preferred elevation (m) asl |
0-200 |
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Preferred landscape position |
Sheltered sites located on river flats or lower slopes. Canopy requires even light exposure for straight form. Requires afternoon shade. |
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Preferred Soil |
Deep alluvial loam to clay loam soils |
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Prohibitive soil |
Soils that are prone to drying out deep into the profile i.e. uniform deep sands |
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Poor drainage tolerance |
Low to moderate |
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Dry site tolerance |
Low to moderate |
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Frost tolerance |
Low |
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Pest and disease problems: |
Asian cedar tip moth causing leader dieback - not known to be an issue in Victoria |
Timber Characteristics1 |
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Strength: seasoned timber only |
SD8-very low |
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Durability1: in ground | above ground |
2 | ? |
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Drying: green to 12% moisture content |
Easy to dry. Requires careful stacking to avoid cupping. Shrinkage about 1.9% radial and 4.5% tangential. |
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Main commercial products |
Decorative veneers, panelling and furniture. It has also been used for boat building and carving. |
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Bushfire resistance2: measured by Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) |
Not tested |
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Least attractive features |
Frost tenderness, sapwood very susceptible to lyctid borer. Requires shelter from sun and cold conditions. |
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Most attractive features |
Attractive tree, durable timber, excellent veneer option, deciduous, timber from plantations at least as good as native forest. |
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Status as a plantation species in Gippsland |
Restricted to a few isolated plantings. The narrow siting preference of the species indicates that it is not suited to being planted across large areas spanning different site classes. |
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1 Based on Australian Standard: Timber Natural durability ratings. AS 5604-2005. Refer to Appendix for explanatory table. Where (?) applied, rating is based on field experience. 2 Naturally bushfire resisting timbers are those with inherent bushfire resisting properties. For more information refer to Australian Standard 3959:2018. |
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Assumptions and notes:
- Sites considered for planting contain at least 1 metre of soil above an impeding layer (e.g. bedrock or layer impenetrable to roots.)
- Please note that most (if not all) eucalypts in Gippsland grow best on sheltered sites.
- Overall slow drying time across air and kiln dried schedules is recommended to minimise drying degrade. This is the best starting point for inexperienced operators.
Beadle, C.L. and Brown, A.G. (eds) 2007. Acacia Utilisation and Management: Adding Value. RIRDC Publication No. 07/095, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.
Boland, D.J. et. al (1992). Forest Trees of Australia. CSIRO Australia.
Bootle, K.R. (1983). Wood in Australia – Types, properties and uses. McGraw Hill, Australia
Carnegie, A.J. (2002). Field Guide to Common Pests and Diseases in Eucalypt Plantations in NSW. Research and Development Division of State Forests, NSW.
Clarke, B., McLeod, I. and Vercoe, T (eds) 2009. Trees for farm forestry: 22 Promising Species. RIRDC Publication No. 09/015. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.
http://www.rajalaut.com/download/AS%205604-2005%20Timber%20-%20Natural%20durability%20ratings.pdf
https://www.nzffa.org.nz/farm-forestry-model/species-selection-tool/species/cypress/macrocarpa/
https://www.nzffa.org.nz/system/assets/2056/Eucalypt_Information_Note_1_-_Choosing_eucalypts.pdf
https://www.nzffa.org.nz/farm-forestry-model/species-selection-tool/species/redwood/coast-redwood/
https://www.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/511553/Silverwattle.pdf
Mortimer, J. (2003). A selection of alternative timbers. Taitua Books, NZ.
National Association of Forest Industries (2004). Timber Species and Properties (Revised edition). Timber Manual Datafile P1
Nicholas, I.D., Gifford, H.H., and Kimberely, M.O. (1997). Siting Black Walnut. FRI Bulletin no. 188
Phillips, C. (1996). Insects, Diseases and Deficiencies associated with Eucalypts in South Australia. Primary Industries SA Forests.
Poole, B., Waugh, G. and Yang, J.L. (2017). Potential for growing and processing durable eucalypts in New Zealand. Publication No. SWP-T036. Solid Wood Innovation. Specialty Wood Products Research Partnership.
Reid, R. (2017). Heartwood. The art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit. Melbourne Books.
Tepper, C. J. (2002). Plantation Eucalypt species for solid wood products – a profile of Eucalyptus muelleriana. Gottstein Fellowship Report for the Gottstein Memorial Trust
Tepper, C.J. (2008). Site Matching and Establishing Eucalypt Sawlog Species in Southern Australia In. Beadle, C.L. and Brown, A.G. (eds) 2008. Plantation Eucalypts for High Value Timber. RIRDC Publication No. 08/113, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.