Black Walnut, also known as Walnut or American Walnut, is one of the finest North American lumber species.  Along with Mahogany and Cherry, Walnut set the standard for early American furniture.  The Walnut tree is hearty, shade tolerant, and can grow to be quite large both in width and in height.  Because it is one of the last trees to leaf and one of the first to drop its leaves, Black Walnuts are not great lawn trees.  They also give off an acidic residue that kills surrounding acid sensitive plants.  But as a lumber producer, Walnuts are superior to many other species.  The trunks grow straight and clear and yield a high percentage of FAS lumber.  The texture of Walnut lumber is peaceful, the grain can usually be worked from either direction, and it takes a rich finish.  Due to over harvesting the availability of high quality Walnut has diminished and the grading standards are more relaxed for this species.  A FAS board only has to be about 67% clear of defects while most species need to be 84% usable.
Most Walnut lumber is steamed right after it is sawn.  This darkens the sapwood by pulling the browns from the heartwood, basically homogenizing the color of the board.  We do not steam our Black Walnut, leaving all of the beautiful browns, golds and purples to tell their stories.

• Treasured for both veneer and lumber
• Hearty species
• Oxidizes to a lighter color
• Peaceful grain

*** All walnut slabs and walnut lumber can only be sold kiln dried with the bark removed.  This applies to all members of the walnut family (Juglans) which include but are not limited to Black Walnut, Butternut, English Walnut, European Walnut, Claro Walnut and Persian Walnut

Characteristics of Black Walnut