Black Walnut

[Juglans nigra]

One of the largest hardwood trees in North America, Black Walnut is the United States’ only dark-brown domestic wood species.

Also known as “Eastern Black Walnut” and “American Walnut,” it’s easily the most popular species among American woodworkers, who love it for its strength, grain, and cooperative working characteristics.

But it’s the dark, sultry color of Black Walnut that earns the species its #1 ranking on most popularity lists. While its light, creamy-white sapwood seems to bely its name, the light-brown heartwood of Black Walnut darkens with age to its legendary, dark chocolate brown color, often with hints of purple, green, and grey. Capable of a wavy, curvy, or fiddleback figure, Black Walnut is famous for its beautiful, iconic cathedral pattern revealed by a plain slice cut.

By any standard, for any purpose, Black Walnut is drop dead gorgeous. Making it one of the most sought after species for wood veneer, architectural millwork, fine furniture, upscale cabinets, natural wood flooring, boats, musical instruments, and gunstocks.