Macrocarpa

Sapwood colour: pale yellow-brown and little different from the yellow-brown heartwood although wood from old trees tends to be darker.   

Grain and texture: grain generally straight but can deviate considerably from stem fluting or around knots from large branches of trees grown in open grown shelter belts or plantations.  The texture is fine and even with visible growth rings.  Tissue gives the wood a lustrous appearance similar to that of hoop or kauri.   The heartwood exhibits a fragrant spicy odour or ‘pencils’ similar to that of western red cedar. 

The species is originally from the United States of America; in Australia it was commonly used for windbreaks on Victorian farms, where it was planted around 70 to 100 years ago. Now it is increasingly available commercially.  Several small sawmilling operations in Victoria are processing the farm-sourced timber.  The tree was also introduced to New Zealand in the 1860’s, tropical Africa and Madagascar and was planted mainly in shelter belts but occasionally in plantations in New Zealand. 

The wood is a lightweight softwood (475-485 kg/m³ at 12% MC) and is a moderately stiff, strong timber similar to NZ grown Douglas Fir, it can be difficult to kiln dry, usually exhibiting collapse and sometimes internal checking. 

The wood saws and works easily owing to its fine texture.  It holds nails well and the gluing and painting properties are good.   It is one of the most naturally durable exotic softwoods grown in New Zealand, and is resistant to insect and borer attack in sawn form.  The heartwood is rated moderately durable (Class 3) in ground which means that a 50x50 stake will last 10-15 years. Larger sections will last longer.  Above ground it is regarded as equivalent to H3 pine. It is reportedly, naturally, termite-resistant (http://www.jedwoodtimber.com.au/cypress.html) although no published test data is available.