High confidence

Black Walnut

Juglans nigra · Hardwood

Type: Hardwood
Origin: Eastern North America
Hardness: 1010 lbf (Medium)
Durability: Durable

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Grain Pattern

Straight to irregular grain with a medium texture and occasional wavy or curly figure

Color & Appearance

Rich dark brown to purplish-black heartwood with contrasting pale yellowish-white sapwood, moderate natural luster

Hardness (Janka)

1010 lbf (Medium)

Durability & Decay Resistance

Durable

Value & Sustainability

Estimated Market Value: 8.00 to 15.00 USD per board foot
Wood Age Estimate: Mature standing tree, estimated 40 to 60 years old
Sustainability Status: Least concern, abundant and widely available, not CITES listed

Common Uses

Fine furniture, cabinetry, architectural millwork, gunstocks, veneer, and turning

Geographic Origin

Eastern North America

Workability

Exceptional workability with both hand and machine tools, glues, stains, and finishes well

Finish Recommendations

Takes oil, lacquer, and polyurethane finishes exceptionally well to highlight depth and chatoyance

Notable Features

Contains natural juglone compound which can be toxic to some plants; prized for its rich color and stability

Learn more about Black Walnut in the Wood Encyclopedia

Identified August 22, 2026

Encyclopedia

Learn about Black Walnut in the encyclopedia

Black Walnut

Eastern North America

Mansonia

West Africa

African Walnut

West and Central Africa

English Walnut

Native to a broad band from the Balkans and Turkey through the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Himalayas into western China; long cultivated across Europe, hence the common name.

Black Alder

Northern Europe (also across western Asia and North Africa)

Black Cherry

Eastern North America

Black Locust

Eastern North America

Black Mangrove

Coastal tropics and subtropics of the Americas (Gulf and Atlantic coasts, Caribbean, Central and South America), West Africa, and parts of tropical Asia

East Indian Walnut

East Indian Walnut

Native to the Indian subcontinent, Myanmar and the Andaman Islands; naturalized across tropical South and Southeast Asia

Butternut

Eastern North America

Australian Mangrove

Australian Mangrove

Coastal Australia, Southeast Asia, and the tropical western Pacific

Australian Blackwood

Australian Blackwood

Eastern and southeastern Australia (including Tasmania)