Wood Species Guide
Spotted Gum
Corymbia maculata (syn. Eucalyptus maculata)
Also called: Spotted Eucalyptus
What Spotted Gum looks like
Heartwood ranges from pale brown to a deep chocolate brown, with lighter and darker bands. The sapwood is pale and can be wide.
Grain and texture
Grain is interlocked to wavy, with a medium texture and a slightly greasy feel. Some boards show a rippled fiddleback figure.
Working Spotted Gum: planing, cutting and gluing
Hard and heavy, so use carbide blades and pre-drill fasteners. Interlocked grain can tear out on the planer. Its slightly greasy surface glues best right after machining.
Finishing Spotted Gum: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes oil and film finishes well, and the wavy figure shows nicely under a clear coat. Wipe with acetone before epoxy or a film finish. Outdoors it fades to gray without a UV oil.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
The heartwood is regarded as durable above ground and is a common decking and flooring timber in Australia. Sapwood is far less durable. In Florida, use it above ground with good airflow and keep the end grain sealed.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Spotted gum is one of Australia's go-to timbers for decks, floors and outdoor furniture, and it is rarely seen in US lumberyards. If you find it, it makes a hard, handsome outdoor table or bench. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Spotted Gum
Flooring, decking, structural timber, outdoor furniture, tool handles and boatbuilding.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
Skin irritation and rashes are reported now and then. Few other reports exist.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Skin irritation and rashes have been reported, but serious reactions are uncommon. Use dust collection and a mask.
Spotted Gum in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Spotted Gum listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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