Juglans regia
Appearance
Color: Heartwood ranges from a deep, rich dark brown to a purplish black. Sapwood is nearly white to tan. Difference between heartwood and sapwood color is great; some flooring manufacturers steam lumber to bleed the darker heartwood color into the sapwood, resulting in a more consistent color.
Grain: Mostly straight and open, but some boards have burled or swirly grain.
Variations Within Species and Grain: Great variety of color and figure within species, as well as variations in color among boards, especially from lower grades and material that is not steamed.
Properties
Hardness/Janka: 1010; 22% softer than Northern red oak.
Dimensional Stability: Excellent (change coefficient .00274; 26% more stable than red oak).
Durability: Moderately dense, very strong, good shock resistance. Not as dent-resistant as oak.
