Leatherwood

Renowned as a honey nectar tree, leatherwood is an understorey tree in the wet Tasmanian rainforests and mixed forests where it accounts for almost 70% of all honey produced. Where there is prolific growth the tree is excluded from timber use to maintain a resource for the apiary industry. 

When harvested, however, leatherwood produces an attractive timber in a rich palette ranging from pinks to browns. Purple-heart logs feature the most figured wood and resemble black-heart sassafras. The heartwood is pinkish brown with a fine uniform texture while the sapwood remains undefined.

Leatherwood is an extremely even and fine-grained timber with good workability and finish. Its grain is usually straight with visible but not obvious growth rings. It seasons well with no distortion and glues, nails, bends, and polishes easily, making it popular for furniture making. It can produce a fine burl wood that is rare and highly prized.

Commercially leatherwood timber is used for furniture manufacturing and veneers, as well as pulpwood, turning and handles.

The common name, leatherwood, comes from the extreme flexibility of its green timber.