Karri
Scientific name: Eucalyptus diversicolor
Overview
Karri is one of the tallest hardwood trees in the world and is native to the southwestern region of Western Australia. These massive trees can reach impressive heights and produce long, straight trunks that yield large volumes of high-quality timber.
The wood is known for its pale reddish-brown color and relatively straight grain. Historically, Karri has been used in heavy construction, bridge building, and structural applications due to its strength and durability. It has also been used in flooring and furniture where a strong yet attractive hardwood is required.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Karri
- Scientific Name: Eucalyptus diversicolor
- Region: Oceania & Pacific Hardwoods (Southwestern Australia)
- Tree Size: 150–250 ft tall, 4–8 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 53 lbs/ft³ (850 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 2,020 lbf
- Color: Light reddish brown to pinkish brown
- Grain: Interlocked
- Texture: Medium to coarse
Identification Characteristics
Karri typically displays a pale reddish-brown heartwood that can vary from pinkish tones to deeper brown shades. The grain is generally straight but may occasionally show slight interlocking. The wood has a medium to somewhat coarse texture and a natural luster when finished.
Key identification traits include:
- Light reddish-brown to pinkish heartwood
- Straight to slightly interlocked grain
- Medium to coarse texture
- Often found in large, wide boards due to the tree’s size
Working Properties
Karri is considered moderately difficult to work due to its density and hardness, but it machines well with sharp tools. Because of its strength, it is often chosen for heavy-duty applications.
- Machines well with sharp tools
- Dense structure may dull cutting edges faster
- Interlocked grain can occasionally cause tear-out
- Gluing and finishing properties are good
- Strong and durable once properly dried
Safety Note
Karri dust may cause irritation in some individuals, which is common among eucalyptus species. Proper dust collection and protective equipment are recommended when working with the wood.
Common Uses
Karri is widely used for structural and heavy-duty applications because of its strength and durability.
- Structural timber
- Heavy construction
- Flooring
- Furniture
- Bridge timbers
- Interior joinery
Sustainability & Notes
Karri forests are primarily found in Western Australia and are carefully managed through sustainable forestry practices. Because of the tree’s large size and long straight trunks, it has historically been an important timber species for construction and infrastructure projects.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Jarrah – Typically darker and more resistant to decay, making it a common choice for outdoor applications.
Flooded Gum – Generally lighter in color and slightly less dense than Karri.
Spotted Gum – Another strong Australian hardwood known for its distinctive grain pattern.
Related Guides
How to Identify Exotic Hardwood by Grain Pattern
Karri’s straight grain and occasional interlocking patterns make it useful for comparing eucalyptus hardwood grain structures.
Moisture Content & Long-Term Stability
Proper drying is essential for dense hardwoods like Karri to reduce internal stresses and movement.
How to Store Exotic Wood Samples
Keeping Karri samples in stable humidity conditions helps prevent cracking or checking in dense eucalyptus woods.
Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
Karri is valued by wood collectors because samples often come from very large trees, allowing collectors to obtain wide and thick pieces that are not common in many hardwood species. Its reddish tones and straight grain make it a good representative sample of the large eucalyptus timber group.
Share Your Photos of This Species
Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?
Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.
When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.
Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
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Through the Adopt a Species program, visitors can help support ongoing species research, educational content, photography, video production, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Contributions help fund the continued expansion of this archive while promoting sustainable forestry education and the long-term appreciation of the world’s forests.
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Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Related Tools & Products:
• CMT Orange Tools 8-Inch Dado Saw Blade Set for creating clean grooves, dados, and joinery cuts in woodworking projects
https://amzn.to/4wLVIzR
• Howard Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish and Conditioner for restoring and protecting finished wood surfaces
https://amzn.to/3PDy0VS
• General Tools MMD4E Digital Moisture Meter for checking moisture content in wood and detecting potential water damage
https://amzn.to/4wMsEbz
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