# European walnut

> European walnut (Juglans regia), also sold as English, French or common walnut, is a brown hardwood with a straight to wavy grain. The Wood Database lists it at 1,220 lbf (5,410 N) on the Janka scale and 640 kg/m³, harder than black walnut at 1,010 lbf. Published sources describe it mainly as a furniture, joinery and veneer timber, and say it can be expensive and sometimes sold only as veneer.

Source page: https://www.misterendgrain.com/species/european-walnut/
Updated: 2026-11-03

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Juglans regia [1] |
| Other names | English walnut, Circassian walnut, European walnut, French walnut, common walnut [1] |
| Janka hardness | 1,220 lbf (5,410 N) [1] |
| Hardness, CIRAD scale | Monnin hardness 3.2 (not a Janka figure) [3] |
| Density | 640 kg/m³ (40 lbs/ft³) average dried weight [1] |
| Density, second source | Specific gravity 0.66 at 12 % moisture content [3] |
| Shrinkage, green to ovendry | Radial 5.5 %, tangential 7.5 %, volumetric 13.0 %, T/R ratio 1.4 [1] |
| Origin | Eastern Europe and western Asia [1] |
| Conservation status | IUCN: near threatened; not listed in the CITES Appendices [1] |

European walnut (*Juglans regia*) is a brown hardwood with a straight to wavy grain, sold under several names including English, French and common walnut. The Wood Database lists it at 1,220 lbf (5,410 N) on the Janka scale and 640 kg/m³ average dried weight [1]. The published sources we opened describe it mainly as a furniture, joinery and veneer timber rather than a flooring species, so check the specific product and its construction before specifying it underfoot.

## What is European walnut, and what else is it called?

The Wood Database gives the Latin name *Juglans regia* and lists the other names English walnut, Circassian walnut, European walnut, French walnut and common walnut [1]. The European Atlas of Forest Tree Species calls it common, English or Persian walnut [4], and EUFORGEN uses "Persian or Eurasian walnut" as well as common walnut [5]. CIRAD's Tropix sheet lists local names including *noyer* (France), *Nussbaum* and *Walnuss* (Germany), *noce commune* (Italy), *nogal* (Spain), and both "European walnut" and "Walnut" for the United Kingdom [3]. Forest Research uses the name common walnut [6].

The tree is large and deciduous. The Atlas gives a height of up to 25 to 35 m and, exceptionally, a trunk diameter of up to 2 m [4]; The Wood Database gives 80 to 115 ft (24 to 35 m) and a trunk diameter of 5 to 6 ft (1.5 to 2.0 m) [1].

## Where does European walnut come from?

Sources describe the range with care because the tree has been cultivated for so long. The Wood Database gives the distribution as eastern Europe and western Asia [1]. Forest Research says common walnut is native to south-eastern Europe and Asia as far east as China, widely planted beyond that range, and likely introduced to Britain by the Romans [6]. The Atlas states that, because of its long history of cultivation, the natural range is not clear, and that it is thought to be native to the Mediterranean and Central Asia [4]. EUFORGEN says it has been cultivated over a wide area from East Asia to western Europe and the Americas [5]. Tropix lists France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom as main producing countries of temperate timber [3].

## What does European walnut look like, and how does it differ from black walnut?

The Wood Database describes heartwood from pale brown to dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks, sometimes with a grey, purple or reddish cast, and nearly white sapwood. The grain is usually straight but can be irregular, the texture medium with moderate natural lustre, and curly, crotch and burl figure occasionally occur [1]. Tropix describes brown heartwood, more or less yellow-brown or pinkish brown, sometimes greyish and often with darker veins, with straight to wavy grain and a sapwood that is not clearly demarcated [3]. The two sources therefore disagree on how visible the sapwood is, which can vary by log and by how the timber is selected and processed.

[Black walnut](https://www.misterendgrain.com/species/black-walnut/) (*Juglans nigra*) is a separate North American species. The Wood Database's colour descriptions for the two are very close: the same pale to dark chocolate brown heartwood range, with sapwood described as nearly white for European walnut and pale yellow-grey to nearly white for black walnut [1] [2]. AHEC's species guide says American walnut is a different species to European walnut, which tends to be lighter in colour [7]. In practice, compare samples of the actual boards rather than relying on the species name.

| Property | European walnut | Black walnut |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | *Juglans regia* | *Juglans nigra* |
| Origin | Eastern Europe and western Asia [1] | Eastern United States [2] |
| Janka hardness | 1,220 lbf (5,410 N) [1] | 1,010 lbf (4,490 N) [2] |
| Average dried weight | 640 kg/m³ [1] | 610 kg/m³ [2] |
| Shrinkage (radial / tangential / volumetric) | 5.5 % / 7.5 % / 13.0 % [1] | 5.5 % / 7.8 % / 12.8 % [2] |

All figures in the table come from The Wood Database.

## How hard and dense is European walnut?

The Wood Database lists 1,220 lbf (5,410 N) Janka hardness, an average dried weight of 40 lbs/ft³ (640 kg/m³), and specific gravity of 0.52 (basic) and 0.64 (at 12 % moisture content) [1]. Tropix gives a specific gravity of 0.66 at 12 % moisture content, notes that properties are for mature wood and can vary significantly with origin and growing conditions, and reports hardness as Monnin 3.2, which is not a Janka figure [3]. The 0.64 and 0.66 values are close but not identical, so quote the source and moisture basis rather than a single number.

On The Wood Database's figures European walnut is harder than black walnut (1,220 lbf against 1,010 lbf) [1] [2]. Our guide to [Janka hardness](https://www.misterendgrain.com/guides/janka-hardness-explained/) explains what the scale measures, and the [hardness chart](https://www.misterendgrain.com/hardness-chart/) places species side by side. For another European species, see [European oak](https://www.misterendgrain.com/species/european-oak/).

## How stable is European walnut?

Both main sources give the same shrinkage values: radial 5.5 %, tangential 7.5 % and a tangential-to-radial ratio of 1.4. The Wood Database adds volumetric shrinkage of 13.0 % [1]; Tropix adds a volumetric coefficient of 0.37 % per % and a fibre saturation point of 27 % [3]. Tropix says the wood is characterised by good dimensional stability [3]. On drying, it gives a normal to slow rate, a slight risk of distortion and of checking, and a risk of collapse [3].

Tropix also places heartwood in use class 2 (inside or under cover, dampness possible) and says use under permanent humidification is not recommended [3]. Indoors, humidity still matters for any timber floor, so read [moisture and acclimatisation](https://www.misterendgrain.com/guides/moisture-and-acclimatisation/) before installation.

## How does European walnut take finishes and tools?

The Wood Database says it is easy to work when the grain is straight, that planer tearout can occur with irregular or figured grain, and that it glues, stains and finishes well though it is rarely stained [1]. Tropix gives a normal blunting effect, good peeling and slicing, and good nailing and screwing [3]. The Wood Database also reports walnut as a sensitiser: severe reactions are uncommon, with eye and skin irritation the usual effects [1], so use dust extraction when machining or sanding. For coatings, see [wood floor finishes](https://www.misterendgrain.com/guides/wood-floor-finishes/) and [sanding and refinishing](https://www.misterendgrain.com/guides/sanding-and-refinishing/).

On durability, The Wood Database says it is moderately durable against decay but susceptible to insect attack [1]. Tropix places heartwood in durability class 3 (moderately durable) against fungi and class S (susceptible) against termites, but class D (durable) against dry wood borers, noting that the sapwood is not clearly demarcated [3]. The insect assessments differ, so treat them as a reason to follow the supplier's guidance.

## What does European walnut cost, and is it used for flooring?

The Wood Database says European walnut is likely expensive and sometimes sold only as veneer [1]. The Atlas says the wood is highly prized, strong, attractive and easy to work, and that good quality logs are sold for veneer and can command high prices [4]. Neither source gives a price per square metre, so we do not quote one.

Flooring is not among the uses these sources list. The Wood Database lists furniture, cabinetry, gunstocks, interior panelling, veneer, turned items and small novelties [1], and Tropix lists cabinetwork, interior joinery, sculpture, sliced veneer, turned goods and woodware [3]. That does not mean walnut cannot be used for floors, only that these references do not document it. Where a thin walnut face is the form available, see [engineered wood flooring](https://www.misterendgrain.com/flooring/engineered-wood/); for full-thickness boards, see [solid wood flooring](https://www.misterendgrain.com/flooring/solid-wood/). For a more widely stocked dark-brown option, compare [black walnut](https://www.misterendgrain.com/species/black-walnut/).

## Is European walnut sustainable?

The Wood Database says nearly all available lumber comes from cultivated trees, that the species is not listed in the CITES Appendices and that the IUCN lists it as near threatened [1]. Tropix likewise records it as not in the CITES Appendices (Washington Convention 2025) [3]. EUFORGEN reports no formal conservation status on its page and says breeding for uniformity can increase genetic vulnerability to biotic and abiotic stresses, while wild populations in Greece and Iran show higher genetic diversity than cultivated ones [5]. The Atlas lists felling of the best trees for high quality timber, and hybridisation with black walnut, among threats to genetic variability [4].

Forest Research describes the wood as durable, strong, attractive and prized, and the tree as a potential high value timber species on good sites, but notes that material from open-grown trees often has poor form and that pruning above 2.5 m can improve timber quality [6]. For certification, ask the supplier for the chain-of-custody documentation; see our guide to [flooring standards](https://www.misterendgrain.com/guides/flooring-standards/) for the standards that apply to timber floors. Our [glossary](https://www.misterendgrain.com/glossary/) explains terms such as heartwood and sapwood.

## Frequently asked questions

### How hard is European walnut?

The Wood Database lists European (English) walnut at 1,220 lbf (5,410 N) on the Janka scale [1]. CIRAD's Tropix sheet reports a Monnin hardness of 3.2 at 12 % moisture content, which is a different scale and cannot be converted to Janka from the sheet [3].

### Is European walnut the same as black walnut?

No. European walnut is Juglans regia and black walnut is Juglans nigra [1] [2]. AHEC states that American walnut is a different species to European walnut, which tends to be lighter in colour [7]. The Wood Database lists 1,220 lbf for European walnut and 1,010 lbf for black walnut [1] [2].

### Is European walnut stable?

The Wood Database gives tangential shrinkage of 7.5 %, radial 5.5 % and a T/R ratio of 1.4 [1], and Tropix gives the same values [3]. Tropix describes the wood as having good dimensional stability [3].

### Is European walnut expensive?

The Wood Database says it is likely expensive and sometimes sold only as veneer [1]. The European Atlas of Forest Tree Species says good quality logs are sold for veneer and can command high prices [4].

### Is European walnut a sustainable choice?

The Wood Database says nearly all available lumber comes from cultivated trees, that the species is not in the CITES Appendices and that the IUCN lists it as near threatened [1]. EUFORGEN gives no formal conservation status on its species page [5].

## Sources

1. [English Walnut](https://www.wood-database.com/european-walnut/), The Wood Database, accessed 2026-11-03
2. [Black Walnut](https://www.wood-database.com/black-walnut/), The Wood Database, accessed 2026-11-03
3. [Walnut (Juglans regia), Tropix technical sheet, last update 05/20/2024](https://tropix.cirad.fr/FichiersComplementaires/EN/Tempered/WALNUT%202026_EN.PDF), CIRAD (Tropix), accessed 2026-11-03
4. [Juglans regia in Europe: distribution, habitat, usage and threats (European Atlas of Forest Tree Species)](https://ies-ows.jrc.ec.europa.eu/efdac/download/Atlas/pdf/Juglans_regia.pdf), European Commission Joint Research Centre, accessed 2026-11-03
5. [Juglans regia](https://euforgen.org/species/juglans-regia), EUFORGEN, accessed 2026-11-03
6. [Common walnut (CWA), Tree Species Database](https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/tree-species-database/131530-common-walnut-jre/), Forest Research, accessed 2026-11-03
7. [A Guide to Sustainable American Hardwoods (2nd edition, 2024)](https://www.americanhardwood.org/sites/default/files/publications/download/2024-05/AHEC_Species_Guide_2024_2ndEdition_English.pdf), American Hardwood Export Council, accessed 2026-11-03