Australian Blackwood

The Australian Blackwood, also known as Blackwood, Hickory, Mudgerabah, Tasmanian Blackwood, or Acacia Blackwood is an evergreen tree native to the eastern seaboard, southeast Australia, and Tasmania.

It is found primarily in wet sclerophyll forests, and cool temperate rainforest outcrops growing in a wide variety of locations and soil types, growing best in deep, fertile soils. It can be found growing along with a variety of species and is found growing alongside Nothofagus cunninghamii (Myrtle Beech) in Victoria and Tasmania.

Blackwood will grow into a small to medium-sized tree, reaching heights of 8 metres with a spread of 3 metres producing an attractive spreading crown. It can grow up to 30 metres tall with a spread of 6 metres under optimal conditions and the right setting.

The bark on older trunks appears greyish black but can appear brown to dark brown on younger trees. It is deeply fissured and somewhat scaly in appearance.

Phyllodes, which are modified leaf stems that function as leaves, have bipinnate leaves at their tips in the plants’ juvenile state (as seen in the product pictures) but will eventually disappear as the tree matures. Phyllodes are dark to greyish green, and are generally elongated, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate and vary from being straight to slightly curved. Leaf texture on mature specimens can range from slightly glossy to somewhat leathery.

Blackwood produces a stunning array of flowers ranging from pale yellow to cream, whitish colour. Flowers are globose and appear as fluffy balls due to the presence of numerous stamens. Flowers are arranged in globular clusters and will appear from late winter to early spring. Some trees will produce a prolific number of seeds, present from late summer into early autumn.

It is planted in large gardens and parks as a specimen for shade or for screening along borders. Blackwood requires a sunny position, and will do best in deep, fertile soil, but will tolerate a wide variety of sandy loams, alluvial soils, and clays. Blackwood is also used as a shelterbelt in farms and for soil stabilisation along creek embankments with its suckering roots. The timber is used for cabinet making or in veneers, flooring, and light construction, and has replaced the Koa tree to produce quality ukuleles and instruments.

Blackwood establishes in 3 to 4 years, flowering from the second year and may live upwards of 200 years. Roots of the blackwood spread outwards and form a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria to fix nitrogen.

The Australian Blackwood is used by Indigenous peoples as a source of medicine, where roasted bark is used in an infusion to treat rheumatic joints. The tannin present in the bark is also used as an astringent to treat various ailments such as diarrhea, internal bleeding, wound treatment, skin problems, as a mouth wash, and for some eye problems. The flowers and leaves are used to create dyes, both producing varying shades of yellow and green pigments. The wood was also used to create weapons, both ceremonial and for hunting.

Some trees in nature may contain trace alkaloids associated with DMT.

Please contact us if you have any questions regarding any item you see in our catalogue as we want to help you buy the right item for your needs.

If you would like more information about the Australian Blackwood, see the Botanic Gardens of South Australia for details.