Hardwood Timber Species Data: Spotted Gum (Eucalyptus maculata)

Spotted Gum hardwood species swatch
Hardwood Species: Spotted Gum

Species Description: Spotted Gum Timber

Spotted Gum  is a tall, straight-trunked tree that gets its name from the distinctive mottled weathering pattern on its outer bark layers. This Australian hardwood typically reaches 45 meters in height. There have been some reports of specimens reaching heights of up to 90 meters or more, but this is exceedingly rare.

A flowering tree that attracts common Australian birds known as honeyeaters in droves. The Spotted Gum benefits from this arrangement as honeyeaters are thought to be one of the great pollinator species of the region. 

Spotted Gums are found growing wild in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland in open forest and seem to grow best in dry, relatively infertile soil with a high slate and shale content. Perhaps relying on honeyeaters to help them propagate and pollinate to ameliorate the limiting factors of such poor soil conditions. 

This popular tree has even been naturalised to grow in South Australia and Western Australia, and its distinctively smooth, powdery bark with polygonal flakes and spots is highly recognisable in the Australian landscape.

This warm, welcoming brown wood is an attractive choice for nearly any décor.

With timber colours ranging from pale, greyish browns to soft cream to even a rich, luxurious chocolate brown, spotted gum often produces attractive fiddle-back effects in its frequently wavy grain. 

Physical Properties of Spotted Gum Timber

Dry Density: range 950 kg/m³

Janka Hardness: 11.0 kN

It’s an exceedingly robust timber with a hardness rating of 11 on the Janka scale and a density of 950 kg/m³. Offering excellent termite resistance, spotted gum is ideal for solid timber flooring, engineered wood, parquetry, and decking. 

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.

Want to use Spotted Gum in your next project?

If you would like to use Spotted Gum 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.

If you would love a spotted gum floor, we would love to hear from you!