Southern Black Cherry Wood

Next let s touch briefly on identifying cherry firewood so you can be sure of the type of wood you re dealing with.

Southern black cherry wood. This tree is commonly found in pennsylvania although it can be found in other areas of the northeastern united states and to a lesser extent in southeastern ontario and southern quebec. The relative proximity of these cherry forests translates to a smaller carbon footprint due to shorter transportation routes from forest to mill to craftsman. The wood of prunus serotina is also used as a spice in foods as it imparts a unique flavor. It is also used to make paneling veneers interior trim toys and scientific instruments.

The narrow sapwood is whitish to reddish brown sometimes a creamy pink. Black cherry is characterized by late maturing fruit and is distinct from the other cherries because it has dark bark with irregular scales that peel off easily and a light to dark reddish brown. The american black cherry tree grows abundantly in much of the eastern us with the most prized cherry wood coming from the allegheny plateau. Cherry lumber is also known as black cherry american cherry.

The heartwood can vary in colour from reddish brown to either deep red or a lighter red brown. Perhaps the premier cabinetry timber of the u s traded as cherry. Low quality wood as well as the sap wood can be more tan. In the united states most cherry woods that are sold at fine wood suppliers are of the species known as american black cherry.

Black cherry sapwood in not rot resistant at all most cherry is sawn for grade and nearly all boards contain sapwood often both faces. It can take a beating and look great for years. In the southern appalachian mountains the bark of black cherry has been used in cough medicines and sedatives. Other names black cherry capulin cherry chisos wild cherry choke cherry edwards plateau cherry escarpment cherry gila choke cherry mountain black cherry new england mahogany plum rum cherry southwestern chokecherry whiskey.

The wood of black cherry is valuable for making furniture and cabinets. If maple is not properly sealed first the staining can look blotchy. If lower grade larger logs are sawn to exclude sapwood and further manufacture eliminates sapwood in the product fencing cladding furniture cherry is an excellent exterior wood. Freshly cut cherry is often very pale but the wood oxidizes to its famously favorable rich brown red in time.

This wood normally has brown flecks and small gum pockets. Other cherry trees most often function as decorative trees or fruit bearers. Because it takes dark stains well maple is often stained to mimic a pricier wood like cherry or mahogany which is a controversial pick itself because of deforestation in the regions where it s harvested. Prunus serotina timber is valuable.

Black cherry stands alone for its commercial value as a lumber wood.