Butternut
Juglans cinerea
Butternut, also known as White Walnut, is a beautiful and workable domestic hardwood closely related to Black Walnut. It features warm light brown coloration with a satiny luster and is one of the softest hardwoods, making it exceptionally easy to carve and work by hand. Traditionally prized for furniture, architectural woodwork, and religious carvings, Butternut is now increasingly rare due to a devastating canker disease, making quality lumber highly sought after.
Janka Hardness
490 lbf
Very soft hardwood
Density
27 lbs/ft³
Very lightweight
Shrinkage
Low (6.4% tangential, 3.4% radial)
Very stable
Appearance
Color: Light golden brown to medium brown heartwood with occasional reddish tinge. Satiny luster. Sapwood is nearly white.
Grain: Straight grain with coarse texture similar to walnut. Attractive natural luster and figure.
Key Characteristics
- •Beautiful warm golden-brown color
- •Extremely easy to carve and work
- •Satiny natural luster
- •Related to Black Walnut
- •Excellent dimensional stability
- •Takes stain and finish beautifully
Common Applications
Maintenance
For interior use only. Clean with soft cloth and mild wood cleaner. Finish enhances natural luster and protects from moisture.
Advantages
- +Exceptionally easy to carve
- +Beautiful warm coloration
- +Excellent stability with minimal shrinkage
- +Takes finishes beautifully
- +Lightweight and easy to handle
- +Related to walnut with similar grain
Considerations
- •Very soft - dents and scratches easily
- •Increasingly rare due to canker disease
- •Not suitable for outdoor use
- •Limited availability drives higher prices
- •Not durable against decay or insects
- •Limited to interior applications