Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Usually straight, but can be irregular; features a medium to coarse texture. Cathedral patterns are common in flat-sawn logs, with occasional crotch figure or curls at branch junctions as seen in the trunk sections.
Color Description
Heartwood ranges from a golden brown to a deep chocolate brown with darker streaks. Light tan sapwood is clearly visible in the outer rings of the cut logs. Color tends to lighten over time with UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Durable to Very Durable; highly resistant to heartwood decay, though sapwood is susceptible to insect attack.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior trim, flooring, veneer, and turned objects.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 - $18.00 per board foot for kiln-dried lumber, depending on width and grade.
Wood Age Estimate
Based on the diameter and growth ring density visible in the large rounds, the standing trunk is estimated to be 60-80 years old.
Sustainability Status
Stable; not listed on CITES Appendices or the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Widely available from sustainable sources.
Workability
Excellent workability with both hand and machine tools. Planes and glues well. It can occasionally have some tearout where grain is irregular near branch knots.
Notable Features
Distinctive mild spicy scent when cut. Can cause allergic reactions (walnut toxicity/juglone) in some people or pets (especially horses). Known for high dimensional stability.
Finish Recommendations
Best finished with oils (tung or linseed) or clear coats like polyurethane to highlight the natural dark tones. Avoid stains that obscure the natural grain.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of deep chocolate heartwood, starkly contrasting pale sapwood, and the deeply furrowed, diamond-patterned bark is definitive for Black Walnut.