Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight grain with occasional wavy or curly figure near the crotch areas; visible ring-porous end grain structure with distinct growth rings.
Color Description
Heartwood is a creamy light brown to dark chocolate brown with darker streaks. Sapwood is distinctively pale yellowish-white. It tends to lighten and take on gold/amber tones with age and 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, veneer, gunstocks, interior paneling, turned objects, and specialty small wood items.
Geographic Origin
Eastern and Central North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$8.00 - $15.00 per board foot for kiln-dried dimensional lumber; log value significantly lower depending on size and grade.
Wood Age Estimate
Freshly cut logs (less than 1 year); based on the bright sapwood and lack of graying/weathering on the end-grain surface.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally considered sustainable in North America.
Workability
Excellent workability with both hand and machine tools; glues, stains, and finishes well, though it can occasionally produce tearout in figured pieces.
Notable Features
Distinctive mild, spicy scent when worked. Contains juglone, which can be an irritant to some individuals and is toxic to certain plants like horses.
Finish Recommendations
Best suited for clear natural oils (tung or linseed) and waxes to enhance depth, or shellac/polyurethane for higher durability.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of deep furrowed bark, distinct pale sapwood ring contrasting with dark heartwood, and large earlywood pores is characteristic of Juglans nigra.