This is a softwood tree which attains a height of up to 60m with a diameter of 1m to 2m above the enlarged or buttressed base.
There is little difference in colour between sapwood and heartwood, the wood generally being a creamy white, but the heartwood usually has a pinkish tinge. It usually has a very straight grain, but occasionally this may be spiral, while the texture is medium but dependent on the rate of growth, although on average this is usually fairly slow and even. The wood is non-resinous. without odour and therefore non-tainting, light in weight, about 450 kg/m³ when dried, and showing a silvery lustre on planed surfaces.
Its strength to weight ratio is high. and compared with European redwood (Pinus sylvestris), it is some 25 per cent stiffer, and is about equal in bending strength, hardness and resistance to splitting. Generally this timber has good working properties, and provided cutting edges are kept sharpened, finishes very cleanly. It can be nailed, screwed, glued, stained, polished and painted satisfactorily. Due to the straight clear grain this timber is commonly used for masts, yards spars and oars, as a lighter weight alternative to Douglas Fir within the marine industry. It is also traditionally used in making acoustic guitars.