Wood Species Guide
English Walnut
Juglans regia
Also called: European Walnut, Persian Walnut, French Walnut, Circassian Walnut, Turkish Walnut, Common Walnut, Carpathian Walnut
What English Walnut looks like
Heartwood runs from a soft gray-brown to a deeper chocolate, often with darker streaks and swirls that can look almost marbled. The sapwood is pale. It tends to be a little lighter and more varied than American black walnut.
Grain and texture
Grain is usually straight, but burls, crotches and the base of the trunk can be wildly figured. Medium texture with a soft natural luster.
Working English Walnut: planing, cutting and gluing
A pleasure to work with sharp tools. It planes, routs and carves cleanly, sands without fuss and glues well. Figured stock can tear out, so take light final passes or switch to a scraper or sander.
Finishing English Walnut: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Oil and hardwax oil bring out the depth of the streaks, and film finishes go on easily. The pores are moderate, so a thin seal coat before an epoxy pour keeps bubbles down. Walnut dust is dark and will tint light fills or light woods next to it, so vacuum well before pouring clear or white epoxy.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Rated moderately durable outdoors and prone to insect attack, so keep it inside. It is fairly stable once dry. In Florida, let boards acclimate in an air-conditioned room and finish both faces.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
English walnut is the classic European furniture and gunstock wood, and its streaky, marbled figure is quite different from the even chocolate of black walnut. Wide slabs and burls are uncommon in the US and priced to match. It flattens nicely on the CNC and looks great with a clear or smoky river. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for English Walnut
Fine furniture, gunstocks, veneer, cabinetry, interior paneling, turned objects and small specialty pieces.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Wild populations are rated Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, but most lumber comes from planted orchard and plantation trees.
Safety and toxicity
- Sensitizer (allergy builds with exposure)
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
Like black walnut, it is a known sensitizer, and some people get itchy skin or eyes from the dust. Serious reactions are uncommon.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding; gloves for sensitive skin
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Walnut dust is a known sensitizer, and eye and skin irritation are the usual complaints. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
English Walnut in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have English Walnut listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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