Common wood species

Most of the timber species that we come across at Turnaround Timbers are hardwoods and most are Australian eucalypts. Below is a guide to the common species.

Because it can be hard to identify wood accurately without seeing the original tree, sometimes we might answer the question, "what wood is this?" with a cheeky:

"Eucalyptus ergonescio" (latin for "I don't know").

Eucalypts

  • Spotted Gum

    Corymbia maculata, Corymbia citriodora, and Corymbia henryi.

    (NB: These species used to be classified eucalyptus).

  • Blackbutt

    Eucalyptus pilularis

  • Jarrah

    Eucalyptus marginata

  • Bluegum

    Eucalyptus saligna (Sydney blue gum) and Eucalyptus globulus (Tasmanian blue gum).

  • Tallowwood

    Eucalyptus microcorys

  • Rose Gum

    Eucalyptus grandis

  • Red Gum

    Eucalyptus camaldulensis
    (river red gum)
    Eucalyptus tereticornis
    (forest red gum)

  • Red Ironbark

    Eucalyptus fibrosa

  • Grey Ironbark

    Eucalyptus paniculata

  • Tasmanian Oak

    Eucalyptus regnans (mountain ash), Eucalyptus delegatensis (alpine ash), and Eucalyptus obliqua (messmate).

  • Karri

    Eucalyptus diversicolor

  • Silvertop Ash

    Eucalyptus sieberi

  • Red Mahogany

    Eucalyptus resinifera

  • Swamp Mahogany

    Eucalyptus robusta

  • Southern Mahogany

    Eucalyptus botryoides

Other woods

  • Brush Box

    Lophostemon confertus

  • Cypress Pine

    Callitris glaucophylla

  • Australian Red Cedar

    Toona ciliata

  • Silky Oak

    Grevillea robusta

  • Tasmanian Blackwood

    Acacia melanoxylon

  • Blackbean

    Castanospermum australe

  • Oregon (Douglas Fir)

    Pseudotsuga menziesii

  • Meranti (Pacific Maple)

    Refers to a large group of species from Indonesia and the Philippines all from the Shorea genus.

  • Western Red Cedar

    Thuja plicata

  • American Ash

    Fraxinus americana

  • Cherry

    Prunus serotina

  • American Red Oak

    Quercus rubra

  • American White Oak

    Quercus alba

  • Celery Top Pine

    Phyllocladus aspleniifolius

  • European Oak

    Quercus robur

  • European Beech

    Fagus sylvatica

  • Kauri Pine

    Agathis dammara

  • New Guinea Rosewood

    Pterocarpus indicus

  • Tasmanian Myrtle

    Nothofagus cunninghamii

  • Teak

    Tectona grandis

  • Walnut

    Juglans nigra

  • Surian (Calantis)

    Toona calantas

  • Tasmanian Sassafras

    Atherosperma moschatum

  • Merbau

    Intsia bijuga

  • Turpentine

    Syncarpia glomulifera

  • Coachwood

    Ceratopetalum apetalum

  • NSW Rosewood (Rose Mahogany)

    Dysoxylum fraserianum

Images predominantly sourced (gratefully) from Britton Timbers website. If you must buy new wood, they are a great option!

our wood library