Black Walnut
Juglans nigra • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Highly irregular and figured locally around knots, displaying crotch figure and wavy patterns; typically straight to interlocked in clear sections with a medium texture.
Color Description
Creamy white to yellowish-tan sapwood contrasting with a heartwood that transitions from a pale brown to a deep chocolate brown. The wood typically darkens over time with light and develops a rich patina.
Hardness Rating
1,010 lbf (Medium Hardness)
Durability Rating
Durable to Very Durable regarding heartwood rot resistance; however, the conspicuous sapwood shown is susceptible to insect attack and decay.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, veneer, interior trim, flooring, and musical instruments.
Geographic Origin
Central and Eastern United States
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 - $18.00 per board foot for live-edge slabs or figured stock.
Wood Age Estimate
Freshly milled or recently harvested (under 1 year) based on the bright, unoxidized appearance of the sapwood and visible saw marks on the rough-cut edge.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; generally considered sustainable and widely available from FSC-certified sources.
Workability
Excellent workability with both hand and machine tools; planes and sands easily, though figured areas near knots may experience tearout. Glues, stains, and finishes exceptionally well.
Notable Features
Distinctive mild, spicy odor when worked. Contains juglone, which can be an irritant. High contrast between sapwood and heartwood is a primary aesthetic feature of live-edge slabs.
Finish Recommendations
Oil-based finishes (tung oil or linseed oil) or clear polyurethane are recommended to enhance chatoyance and depth of the heartwood tones; seal sapwood carefully to maintain contrast.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of thick, pale sapwood, dark chocolate heartwood streaks, bark texture, and the specific 'crotch' figure at the branch junction is characteristic of Juglans nigra.