Huon Pine: Dense Growth Rings from Slow Growth

Huon pine grows only on Tasmania, an island in southern Australia. Its scientific name is Lagarostrobos franklinii. Woodway lists the product name as “Huon pine” and adds “Australian yew” alongside it. The wood often arrives as thin slices cut across the log, allowing you to see the entire cross-section at a glance.

Only a very small amount each year

The first clue to identifying Huon pine is its growth rings. Each growth ring represents the width to which the tree grew over one year. Because Huon pine increases in girth by only a very small amount each year, the spaces between its rings are especially narrow. Look closely and you will see hair-thin lines running without a break from the center toward the bark. Where a knot once grew, the fine lines curve around it before returning to their rounded flow.

It is called pine, but it is not a pine

The word “pine” in its name makes it easy to think of a pine tree, but Huon pine is a different conifer that does not belong to the pine family. The wood contains oily compounds, so it is known for its resistance to decay, and it was once widely used for boatbuilding. When a slice is stood on its side, the bark-side edge is rough and dark brown, while the inner cross-section is a light yellow, making the boundary between the two colors distinct. The edge is not round; it is uneven and undulates like a wave.

A different face in every slice

Even when they are all Huon pine, each slice has a different face. On some, a grayish tone spreads across one side of the cross-section; others contain a dark knot area near the bottom. Conversely, some slices have a bright cross-section with evenly flowing growth rings and no gray pattern. Whether to preserve the knot area as an objet or choose the bright surface for a clean, simple use is up to the person selecting it.

Uses for thinly cut wood

The uses for Huon pine listed by Woodway in the product name are plates and display stands, coasters, and woodcraft. A slice of uniform thickness can be used as a stand as is, while preserving the edge and knot areas can turn it into a small objet. The dense growth rings left by this slow-growing tree are most visible on a single thin slice.

Huon PineExotic hardwoodsWarm golden tones

Photos: Product photos from the Woodway Smart Store. Some of the solid wood pieces featured in the article may already have been sold.