A large tree in its home range, from around Sydney to Far North Queensland, this tree was logged out in colonial times due to its soft, aromatic timber useful for cigar boxes, furniture and panelling and mouldings.

Some of the attractive characteristics of this species include:

• bark is brown and scaly and flakes off leaving a smooth reddish trunk
• growing shoots are pink to bronze
• growth reaches up to 70m in height and 3m in diameter in its natural range, but is a smaller tree elsewhere to around 35m
• the pinnate leaves fall in autumn after turning a pleasing butter yellow to orange
• flowers are small and sweetly fragrant
• wood is soft, light, tough and with beautiful variation
• grows outside in the tropics as far south as Melbourne and Adelaide
• tree shape is upright with a decent, handsome crown
• growth is fast in warm, wet areas

This tree can be attacked by Red Cedar Tip Moth in the tropics, so may do better south of this range. A good choice of farm tree with well developed soil and decent rainfall.

For best grown Toona ciliata favours well-drained, moist, and nutrient abundant soils with a pH range of 5 – 6.5. However, it will grown a wide range of soils but prefers slightly acidic profiles. The tree is quite drought-tolerant and can withstand heat, frost and moderate salinity.

Grown in an open position, this species will spread out with a decent crown, although it can tolerate some shade, and in these locations grown upright, with a gun barrel appearance.