Cherry Wood
Cherry wood is the name given to the wood from the Wild Cherry or Prunus Avium tree. This large and stunning tree is part of the larger term fruit tree which has been explored in more depth on another page.
However, the appearance and appeal of cherry wood means that rather than falling under this larger "umbrella" term, it is often considered, and quite rightly, to be a species in its own right.
The Wild Cherry is grown throughout Europe and Asia and is capable of reaching heights of up to 10m tall with a trunk width or diameter of just under 1 meter.
The Appearance of Cherry Wood
The appearance of the wood tends to differ depending on where the cut is taken from and how recently the wood was cut into. In the case of the heart of the trunk which is known as the heartwood, the colour and appearance of the flesh of the wood tends to start at a light pink or brown when first cut and can darken to a deep brown over time and exposure to fresh air and elements. In sharp contrast, the sapwood tends to be a pale yellow but is only approximately 1 - 2 inches thick and therefore is seen to be in short supply.
The appearance of cherry wood tends to see either fine or medium texture with a very close grain and either straight or slightly wavy contours.
Uses for Cherry Wood
The slim appearance of the trunk means that it is often for either producing veneers or smaller objects.
Although larger objects, such as doors and cabinets would surely lend themselves well to being produced from cherry wood, this is unlikely due to the fact that the trunk tends to be so tall and thin, rather than the thick appearance of many other European trees.
In spite of this shortcoming, if it can be called such a thing, the heartwood of wild cherry tends to be extremely durable and produces an extremely attractive finish which many of our customers adore.
Because of the fine grain, we professionals tend not to stain Wild Cherry because the stain can easily be caught in the grains and give a blotchy or even
messy appearance which does nothing for the actual wood itself.
The price of cherry wood is often reflected in the availability of it and the amount of use it can have in carpentry and furniture production.
