The walnut/butternut group (Juglans spp.) contains 15 species which grow in South America [6], Eurasia [4] and North America [6]. The word juglans is the classic Latin name of walnut, meaning nut of Jupiter.
North American species of Juglans:
Juglans californica California black walnut, California walnut, claro walnut, southern California walnut
Juglans cinereaa,b butternut
Juglans hindsii California black walnut, hinds black walnut, northern California walnut
Juglans major Arizona black walnut, Arizona walnut, little walnut, Mexican walnut, western walnut
Juglans microcarpa Arizona walnut, dwarf walnut, little walnut, Mexican walnut, river walnut, Texas black walnut, Texas walnut, western walnut
Juglans nigraa American walnut, American black walnut,
black walnut, burbank walnut, eastern black walnut,
eastern walnut, gunwood, Virginia
walnut
acommercial species
binformation available on a separate fact sheet
Distribution: Black walnut is native to the eastern United States, from southern Minnesota east to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York; south to South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama; west to Texas; and north through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
The Tree: Black walnut trees reach heights of 120
ft (37 m), with a diameter of over
3 ft (1 m).
General Wood Characteristics: The sapwood of black walnut is nearly white, while the heartwood is light brown to dark, chocolate brown, often with a purplish cast and darker streaks. The wood is heavy, hard, and stiff and has high shock resistance.
Weighta
Weight
Moisture Specific lb/ft3 kg/m3
content gravity
Green 0.51 58 929
12% 0.55 38 609
Ovendry 0.56 NA NA
aReferences: specific gravity, green and
12%, (98); specific gravity, ovendry,
(59); weight, (59).
Mechanical propertiesa
Property Green Dry
MOE 1.42 106 9.791 GPa 1.68 106 11.584 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 9.50 103 65.503 MPa 14.6 103 100.667 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 4.30 103 29.649 MPa 7.58 103 52.264 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.49 103 3.379 MPa 1.01 103 6.964 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 14.6 100.667 10.7 73.777
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3 in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
Hardness 900 lbf 4,003.20 N 1,010 lbf 4,492.48 N
Shear| | 1.22 103 8.412 MPa 1.37 103 9.446 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
aReference (98).
Drying and shrinkagea
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final moisture
content)
Type of 0% MC 6% MC 20% MC
shrinkage
Tangential 7.8 6.2 2.6
Radial 5.5 4.4 1.8
Volumetric 12.8 10.2 4.3
aReferences: 0% MC, (98); 6% and 20%
MC, (90).
Kiln drying schedulea
4/4, 5/4, 8/4 10/4 12/4 16/4
Condition 6/4 stock stock stock stock
stock
Standard T6-D4 T3-D3 T3-D3 T3-C2 NA
aReferences (6, 86).
Working Properties: Black walnut is straight grained and easily worked with hand tools and by machine. It finishes beautifully and holds paint and stain exceptionally well. It also glues and polishes well.
Durability: Rated as very resistant to heartwood decay—one of the most durable woods, even under conditions favorable to decay.
Preservation: No information available at this time.
Uses: Furniture, fixtures, cabinets, gunstocks, novelties, interior paneling, veneer.
Toxicity: No information available at this time.
Additional Reading: 29, 55, 68, 74, 76. 55, 66, 68, 74, 79. 28, 29, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 55, 56, 68, 72, 73, 74, 79, 92, 97, 102. 74, 75, 77, 99, 106. 101.