Leslie Massey
Australian Red Cedar, also known as 'Red Gold', is a native Australian tree species that has been heavily logged for its timber since the early 1800s. With its rich red colour, durability, lightweight properties, and natural termite resistance, Red Cedar was extensively used in colonial Australia and England for furniture, railway carriages, and building construction. Today, Red Cedar is scarce in Australian forests due to over-exploitation, and most remaining trees grow in the lowland rainforests of eastern Australia, specifically between southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Red Cedar |
| Scientific Name | Toona ciliata |
| Height | Up to 60 meters |
| Girth | 3 meters |
| Flower Diameter | 5 millimeters |
| Flower Colour | White or pale pink |
| Flowering Season | Late spring (November to January) |
| Fruit | Thin, dry, woody capsule |
| Leaf Length | 15-45 centimeters |
| Leaf Colour | Reddish-pink |
| Leaf Fall | Autumn (late March) |
| Leaf Growth | Spring (early September) |
| Soil Type | Well-drained with a deep profile and high nutrient load |
| Habitat | Coastal rainforest areas of eastern Australia |
| Uses | Furniture, veneers, paneling, racing boats, railway carriages, coffins |
| Distinct Features | Rough bark, fragrant, termite resistant, lightweight, durable |
| Threats | Moth larvae, over-exploitation, logging |
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What You'll Learn
Red Cedar is scarce in Australian forests
Red Cedar, despite being easily propagated, fast-growing, and hardy, is scarce in Australian forests. This is due to over-logging and the Cedar Tip Moth, or Shoot-borer, whose larvae attack the growing tips of young trees. This non-native moth has decimated the wild population, and most Red Cedars now grow in plantations or as solitary giants in the lowland rainforests of eastern Australia, from southern Queensland to northern New South Wales.
The Red Cedar, known as '"Red Gold'" to early settlers, was extensively logged for its beautiful, fragrant, and workable timber. Its unique ability to float made it easy to transport along waterways, and it was used to make furniture, railway carriages, and coffins. The timber was also used in buildings, including the State Library in Melbourne, where its lovely red banisters can still be seen.
Red Cedar is one of the few native deciduous trees in Australia, and its autumn display is impressive. The trees can grow to a height of 40-60 metres, with a girth of up to 3 metres. In late spring, they produce small white or pale pink flowers, and in late summer, the fruit develops in the form of a thin, dry, woody capsule.
The Cedar Tip Moth is a significant problem for young trees, as the larvae munch into the succulent sapwood, destroying new growth and causing premature branching. This results in twisted, multi-stemmed trees that are unsuitable for timber. The moths are attracted to the scent of the trees, and while they are not an issue in South America, for example, they have had a devastating impact on Red Cedar populations in Australia.
While Red Cedar is now scarce in Australian forests, small quantities are being imported, and the trees are also planted as ornamentals in other parts of the world, such as Hawaii and Zimbabwe.
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Red Cedar is native to Southeast Asia and Australia
Red Cedar (Toona ciliata), also known as "Red Gold", is a native tree species of Australia and Southeast Asia. It is one of the few native deciduous trees in Australia, with leaves turning coppery-red in spring and bright green in summer. The tree can grow up to 60 meters tall and has a trunk diameter of up to 7 meters. It is easily propagated, fast-growing, and hardy, with a unique ability to float, making it ideal for transportation along waterways.
The timber of the Red Cedar is highly valued due to its durability, lightweight, and termite-resistant properties. Historically, it was extensively used in colonial Australia and England for furniture, construction, shipbuilding, railway carriages, and ornamental carvings in public buildings. Unfortunately, over-exploitation led to its commercial extinction by the beginning of the 20th century. Today, it is rarely grown as a timber tree due to its susceptibility to attack by the Cedar Tip Moth or Shoot-borer (Hypsipyla robusta), a brown moth whose larvae damage the growing tips of young trees, resulting in twisted and multi-stemmed growth.
The Red Cedar has cultural significance for some indigenous communities in Southeast Asia and Australia, who refer to themselves as the "people of the Red Cedar" due to their dependence on the tree for basic materials. The wood has been used for housing, totem poles, masks, utensils, and various crafted objects.
In addition to Southeast Asia and Australia, the Red Cedar can also be found in South America, particularly in Brazil, where it is successfully planted due to the absence of the Cedar Tip Moth.
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Red Cedar is a large hardwood that grows in eastern Australia
Red Cedar, or Toona ciliata, is a large hardwood that grows in eastern Australia, specifically in coastal rainforest areas in Queensland and New South Wales. It is one of the few native deciduous trees in Australia, and it can grow up to an impressive 60 metres tall with a girth of 3 metres.
Red Cedar has a long history in Australia, where it was highly valued by early settlers for its beautiful dark red timber. Its unique ability to float made it easy to transport along waterways, and its natural termite resistance made it ideal for furniture, railway carriages, and coffins. The timber was also used in the construction of many public buildings across Australia, including the State Library in Melbourne.
Despite its historical significance, the wild population of Red Cedar has been decimated due to over a century of clearing and felling for timber. The trees were systematically felled, and by the beginning of the 20th century, they had been cut to commercial extinction. Today, most Red Cedars grow only in plantations or as single, ancient giants in the rainforests of eastern Australia.
Red Cedar is also susceptible to attacks by the Cedar Tip Moth or Shoot-borer (Hypsipyla robusta), whose larvae destroy the growing tips of young trees, resulting in twisted and multi-stemmed growth. This has further hindered the growth of Red Cedar in Australia, as the trees are rarely straight-boled due to these insect attacks.
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Red Cedar is valued for its durability, lightweight and suitable for naval use
Red Cedar, despite being easily propagated, fast-growing, and hardy, is not extensively cultivated for its timber in Australia. This is due to its relationship with the Cedar Tip Moth or Shoot-borer, whose larvae attack the growing tips of young trees, stunting their growth and causing them to develop twisted, multi-stemmed shapes. This makes the tree less desirable for timber.
However, Red Cedar timber is still highly valued for its unique properties. It is durable, lightweight, and suitable for naval use. This made it a popular material for building and crafting in colonial Australia, where it was used for furniture, railway carriages, and coffins, and sailing boats. The timber was also used extensively in public buildings, such as town halls and parliaments, for ornate carvings and features like banisters.
The durability of Red Cedar is due to its natural resistance to decay. It contains thujaplicins, chemical substances that act as a natural fungicide, preventing the wood from rotting. This durability, combined with its lightweight properties, makes it ideal for naval construction. Red Cedar is also buoyant, which made it easy to transport along waterways during the colonial period.
Today, Red Cedar is still admired for its beauty, durability, and stability, and it is often used in landscaping projects, such as cladding, fencing, and decking. It is also valued for its acoustic and thermal insulation properties, making it suitable for interior and exterior construction. Properly maintained, Red Cedar can last for decades, providing trouble-free service.
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Red Cedar trees are up to 60m tall
Red Cedar trees, also known as "Red Gold", are among the few native deciduous trees in Australia. They are fast-growing and can grow up to 60 metres tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 7 metres. The trees are awe-inspiring and are known for their beautiful dark red timber, which is termite-resistant. The timber from these trees was used by early settlers to make furniture, railway carriages, and coffins. The unique ability of the wood to float made it easy to transport along waterways.
Red Cedar trees are native to rainforests in Southeast Asia and Australia. They are not widely grown as timber trees in Australia due to their relationship with the Cedar Tip Moth or Shoot-borer (Hypsipyla robusta). The moth's larvae attack the growing tips of young trees, impacting their growth and resulting in twisted, multi-stemmed trees. However, in intact forests, young Red Cedars can often escape the moths until they are too large for moth attacks to affect trunk growth.
The Red Cedar trees were heavily logged along the east coast of Australia from the early 1800s to the early 1900s, leading to their commercial extinction by the beginning of the 20th century. Governor King issued restrictions on the felling of Red Cedars in 1802, but this did not stop the decimation of these trees. Today, the Red Cedars that remain are either regrowth, were too small to be felled, or were located in inaccessible areas.
The Red Cedar is also known as the "White Cedar" and is a winter deciduous tree in Australia. It is still planted as a quick-growing ornamental tree in other parts of the world, such as Hawaii and Zimbabwe. The moths that attack the trees in Australia are not present in South America, so there are large plantations of Red Cedar in Brazil.
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Frequently asked questions
Cedar grows in the lowland rainforests of eastern Australia, specifically in the coastal rainforest areas of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Australia's early settlers called cedar "Red Gold" due to its beautiful dark red timber that is also termite resistant. It was used to make furniture, railway carriages, and coffins. Its ability to float made it easy to transport along waterways. However, this also contributed to the over-exploitation of cedar trees, leading to their commercial extinction by the beginning of the 20th century.
Cedar is scarce in Australian forests due to a century or more of clearing and felling for timber. Most cedars now grow only in plantations or as single, ancient giants in the rainforests of eastern Australia.
