Rose Gum (Eucalyptus grandis): A Fast-Growing Timber Giant of the Forest

Rose Gum (Eucalyptus grandis), also known as Flooded Gum, is a fast-growing eucalypt native to the wetter forests of eastern Australia. It is known for its tall, straight form, pale upper bark and pale pink to red-brown timber.

Botanical Profile of Eucalyptus grandis

Scientific name: Eucalyptus grandis
Family: Myrtaceae
Common names: Rose Gum, Flooded Gum, Scrub Gum

What Does a Rose Gum Tree Look Like?

Rose Gum typically develops a tall, straight trunk. Rough, grey, fibrous or flaky bark is retained on the lower few metres of the trunk, while the bark above is smooth, powdery white to grey and sheds in short ribbons or flakes.^[1]

Adult leaves are glossy dark green above and distinctly paler beneath, usually measuring about 10–16 cm long and 2–3 cm wide. The flowers are white and occur in groups of 7–11, followed by woody fruit that is generally conical to pear-shaped.^[1]

Rose Gum Tree Size

Queensland Government forestry information gives Rose Gum a typical mature height of 45–55 metres, with stems reaching approximately 1–2 metres in diameter.^[2]

Some trees grow considerably taller. PlantNET records Eucalyptus grandis at around 50 metres in height, with occasional individuals reaching approximately 70 metres.^[1] A Rose Gum approaching 70 metres is therefore exceptional rather than representative of its usual mature size.

Eucalyptus grandis in New South Wales. Photo by Dicklyon, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where Does Rose Gum Grow Naturally?

Rose Gum occurs naturally along the wetter parts of eastern Australia. Its main distribution extends from near Newcastle in New South Wales to around Bundaberg in Queensland, with smaller populations occurring further north in Queensland.^[2]

In New South Wales it is a community dominant in tall wet forest and rainforest margins, particularly on fertile alluvial soils along valley floors.^[1]

Eucalyptus grandis flickr photo by Macleay Grass Man, shared under a Creative Commons BY 2.0 licence.

Rose Gum Growth Rate

Rose Gum is a fast-growing eucalypt, although its growth rate varies with site conditions and age. An Australian farm-forestry species profile reports that Eucalyptus grandis can grow 2–3 metres or more in height per year under favourable conditions.^[3]

Rapid height growth does not mean a Rose Gum continues adding several metres every year throughout its life. Agriculture Victoria estimates approximately 25–30 years under preferred plantation conditions to produce a tree around 60 cm in diameter at breast height (DBH).^[4]

Growth can vary substantially with rainfall, soil depth and drainage, nutrition, genetics, management and the age of the tree. The 2–3 metre figure is therefore a measure of the rapid growth possible under favourable conditions rather than a fixed annual growth rate for every Rose Gum.

Rose Gum Growing Conditions

Rose Gum performs best in moist conditions. Agriculture Victoria recommends approximately 1,000 mm or more of annual rainfall for preferred plantation sites, with around 900 mm listed as a minimum.^[4]

The species prefers deep, moist and well-drained soils, ideally more than 2 metres deep. Alluvial flats and lower slopes are favourable, while Rose Gum has low tolerance of poorly drained soils and dry sites.^[4] These preferences are consistent with its natural occurrence on fertile alluvial valley floors in tall wet forest and along rainforest margins.^[1]

Rose Gum Timber

Rose Gum produces an attractive hardwood with heartwood ranging from pale pink to red-brown. Its grain is mainly straight and its texture moderately coarse. Seasoned timber averages approximately 800 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content.^[2]

The timber machines and turns well and readily accepts paint, stain and polish. Uses include house framing, flooring, mouldings, joinery, furniture, turnery, structural plywood and boat building.^[2]

Rose Gum has an above-ground natural durability rating of Class 2 and an in-ground rating of Class 3. This should not be confused with termite resistance: Queensland Government timber data classifies Rose Gum as not termite resistant.^[2]

Rose Gum timber flickr photo by mauro halpern, shared under a Creative Commons BY 2.0 licence.

For a more detailed look at Rose Gum colour, grain, workability and timber uses, see our Eucalyptus grandis Rose Gum timber guide .

Rose Gum in Australian Woodwork

Rose Gum is one of the red hardwoods that may be selected for the shafts of our handmade walking sticks. The Ancient Redgum Knob Handle Walking Stick has an Ancient Redgum knob with a red hardwood shaft that may be Bluegum, Redgum, Rose Gum or another suitable timber, depending on availability.

You can also browse our handmade Australian walking sticks , crafted from a range of Australian timbers selected for their strength, stability and individual grain character.

References

1. PlantNET – Eucalyptus grandis W.Hill. Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, New South Wales Flora Online. Supports tree height, bark, leaves, flowers, fruit, habitat and New South Wales distribution. View source .
2. Rose gum. Business Queensland, Queensland Government. Supports typical tree height, stem diameter, Australian distribution, timber colour, density, durability, termite resistance, workability and uses. View source .
3. Arnold, R. & McLeod, I. – Eucalyptus grandis species profile. In Clarke, B., McLeod, I. & Vercoe, T. (eds.), Trees for Farm Forestry: 22 Promising Species. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Publication No. 09/015, 2009. Supports growth of 2–3 m or more per year under favourable conditions and the species' preference for moist, deep, well-drained soils and high rainfall. View report .
4. Rose gum – Species guide. Agriculture Victoria, Victorian Government. Supports classification as fast-growing, the estimated 25–30 years to produce a 60 cm DBH tree under preferred conditions, rainfall requirements, soil depth, drainage and site preferences. View source .