Hardwood Timber Species Data: Blackbutt (Eucalyptus Pilularis)

Blackbutt Timber Species Swatch
Hardwood Species: Blackbutt


Description:

Blackbutt timber is highly versatile wood. It’s a fantastic choice for not just solid timber floors but also engineered wood, parquetry, and decking.

Blackbutt wood has a moderately coarse yet even texture thanks to its interlocking but overall straight grain. Coloured from pale brown to cream, and with a cathedral grain pattern that’s been called “inspiring” by builders and interior designers alike. 

As always, please remember that wood, being a natural product, features massive amounts of variation when it comes to appearance, density, and hardness.

In fact, don’t be surprised if your blackbutt floorboards contain hints of pink hues, one of the most common colour variations for this versatile Australian hardwood.

Native to Southeastern Australia, Blackbutt (from an economic standpoint) is a Eucalyptus varietal that’s one of our country’s most important hardwoods.

Used not just as a food source for koalas but for the high quality of timber it produces, its ease of regeneration, and its relatively quick growth.

Blackbutt grows as tall as 50 meters, with an impressive average trunk diameter of 4.1 meters. Glossy to dark green leaves adorn these giants, and it features lovely white flowers from September to March.

Its bark is unique, rough from the ground to about halfway up, where it then gives away to smooth white bark instead. The charming common name of this tree comes from its appearance after fires, with the base appearing black. Mature heartwood tends to be pale yellow with brown notes, while sapwood is often much more pale in comparison.

Physical Properties of Blackbutt Timber

Dry Density: range 900 kg/m³

Janka Hardness: 9.1 kN

A Janka hardness rating of 6.3 and a pH of around 3.4 makes it relatively durable and acidic. Dry density for blackbutt is approximately 900 kg/m³, making it an overall good choice for hardwood flooring.

These properties are only a guide, as timber is a natural product there will be variations within any species. The Janka Dry Hardness rating measures the hardness of the wood. The higher the number the harder the wood.

Australian Hardwood Timber Species | Brushbox

Want to use Blackbutt in your next flooring project?

If you would like to use blackbutt in your next project and need assistance with either choosing the correct flooring panels or the installation of your next flooring project then please get in touch with one of our flooring specialists using the form below.

We also offer a more personalised service for those looking for renovation advisory where our team come to your location and help you choose the best species and style to fit the room.

We would love to hear from you!