Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Usually straight, but can be irregular or wavy; notable for beautiful cathedral patterns and occasionally exhibits curly or crotch figure.
Color Description
Heartwood ranges from light brown to dark chocolate brown with darker streaks; sapwood is pale yellow-gray to nearly white. Often develops a rich patina and lightens slightly with age and UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; highly resistant to heartwood decay, though sapwood is susceptible to insect attack.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior paneling, veneer, flooring, and turned objects.
Geographic Origin
Eastern United States and Southern Ontario, Canada.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 – $18.00 per board foot depending on width, grade, and local availability.
Wood Age Estimate
Modern processing; appears to be kiln-dried stock with minimal oxidation, likely aged less than 5 years since milling.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; widely available and generally managed sustainably.
Workability
Excellent workability with both hand and machine tools; planes and sands easily. Glues and finishes well, though it can occasionally produce tearout in figured pieces.
Notable Features
Distinctive mild, spicy odor when being worked; faint toxicity (juglone) can be an irritant to some woodworkers; prized for its strength-to-weight ratio and dimensional stability.
Finish Recommendations
Oil-based finishes (tung or linseed) beautifully enhance the dark tones; polyurethane or lacquer provide excellent protection for high-wear surfaces.
Identification Confidence
High; the characteristic chocolate-brown hue, diffuse-porous grain structure, and visible growth ring transitions are hallmark indicators of Juglans nigra.