Butternut

Butternut (Juglans cinerea)

Common Name(s): Butternut, White Walnut

Scientific Name: Juglans cinerea

Distribution: Eastern United States

Tree Size: 100 ft (30 m) tall, 3 ft (1 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 29 lbs/ft³ (460 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .36

Hardness: 490 lb_f (2,180 N)

Bending Strength: 8,100 lb_f/in² (55,860 kPa)

Elasticity: 1,180,000 lb_f/in² (8,140 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 3.6%, Tangential: 8.1%, Volumetric: 12.5%, T/R Ratio: 2.3

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is usually a light to medium tan, sometimes with a reddish tint. Growth rings are darker and form fairly distinct grain patterns. Sapwood is a pale yellowish white.

Grain/Pore: Has a medium to coarse texture with open pores, similar to Black Walnut. Grain is typically straight.

Durability: Decay resistance is rated as non-durable.; also susceptible to insect attack.

Workability: Butternut is easily worked with both hand and machine tools. However, being so soft, Butternut has a tendency to leave some fuzzy surfaces after planing or sanding, and sharp cutters and fine-grit sandpaper is recommended. Butternut glues, stains, and finishes well.

Smell: Butternut has virtually no scent or odor when being worked.

Safety: There have been no adverse health effects associated with Butternut. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Butternut should be inexpensive, especially within its native range in the eastern United States.

Comments: Sometimes called White Walnut, Butternut is indeed closely related to Black Walnut. While the difference is not black and white, the wood of Butternut is considerably lighter-colored than Black Walnut, as well as being very soft and lightweight.

Butternut trees can usually be distinguished from Black Walnut by looking at its fruit: Butternut’s fruit tends to be more oblong or oval shaped, while Walnut is nearly round; (see illustration below). The fruit (nuts) from Butternut are generally regarded as being more valuable than its lumber.

Some common uses for Butternut include: veneer, carving, furniture, interior trim, boxes, and crates.

Related Species:

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

Claro Walnut (Juglans hindsii)

English Walnut (Juglans regia)

Peruvian Walnut (Juglans spp.)