Australian rosewood, rose-mahogany, rosewood, turnipwood.
Dysoxylum fraserianum

Family: Meliaceae

What it is like

Dysoxylum fraserianum or commonly known as Rosewood or Australian Rose Mahogany is a large tree native to New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. It can grow up to 57 m in height with trunk diameter of 3.5 m. It is typically long-lived, slow-growing, and shade tolerant. The leaves are dark green with 4-12 leaflets. The canopy is round and dense. Rosewood is known for its fragrant and attractive timber commonly used for high-grade cabinet work, furniture, and wood engraving among others.

Dysoxylum fraserianum is an evergreen Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 30 m (98ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 30

Where it is found

Rain forests on richer soils, it is also found in more open situations. Subtropical and dry rain forests, often on coastal ranges in New South Wales.

Australia - New South Wales. Southern Queensland.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Other Uses: The red wood is durable and resistent to termites. It is very easy to work, planing especially well and producing an excellent finish. An attractive wood with a good figure, when freshly cut it has a fragrant odour of roses. Resembling mahogany, it is suitable for a great number of purposes including high-grade cabinet work, furniture, wood engraving, turnery, interior finish and wine casks.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

How it is grown

A tree mainly of the sub-tropical zone in eastern Australia, occasionally found further north in the tropical rain forest. Established plants can tolerate some frosts. Succeeds in full sun once established, but probably requires some shade when smaller. Grows best on richer soils and requires a well-drained soil. Trees are frustratingly slow-growing when young, but can speed up somewhat and become moderately fast-growing after a few years. We have no specific information for this species, but most members of the genus are dioecious, in which case both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagating it: Seed - sown fresh it can germinate within one month.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Australian rosewood, rose-mahogany, rosewood, turnipwood.

Synonyms

Alliaria fraseriana Kuntze Alliaria lessertiana Kuntze Alliaria pubescens Kuntze Cambania fraseriana