English Walnut
Juglans regia
English Walnut is one of the world's most prized furniture woods, valued for its rich color, beautiful grain patterns, and exceptional working properties. Native to a region from the Balkans to the Himalayas but cultivated throughout Europe for millennia, it produces both valuable timber and edible walnuts, making it economically important across multiple continents.
Botanical Profile
Juglans regia is a large deciduous tree reaching 25-35 meters in height with a broad, rounded crown and smooth gray bark. Originating from Southeast Europe through the Himalayas, it features compound leaves with 5-9 leaflets. The tree produces the familiar edible walnut and has been cultivated for over 2000 years.
Physical Properties
The heartwood ranges from gray-brown to rich chocolate brown, often with darker streaks and attractive figure including burls, crotches, and ripples. Sapwood is pale yellow-gray. Density averages 640 kg/m³ when dried with a Janka hardness of 1,220 lbf. The medium to coarse texture and often wavy grain create beautiful patterns.
Workshop Notes
Blunting Effect
Low to moderate - generally kind to cutting edges
Gluing Advice
Excellent gluing properties
Finishing
Outstanding - takes finishes beautifully, especially oil-based
Steam Bending
Good steam bending characteristics
Historical Context
English Walnut has been prized since ancient times, with the Romans spreading cultivation throughout Europe. It became the premier choice for European furniture making from the Renaissance onwards and was especially favored for gunstocks in the 18th and 19th centuries. Fine French and Italian furniture traditionally featured walnut extensively.
Technical Specs
Sustainable with proper management, widely cultivated