Information About Cherry Lumber

Why Cherry Lumber Is One of the Most Valued American Woods

Cherry lumber from the species Prunus serotina has been valued by American woodworkers for generations due to its consistent quality, rich color, smooth texture, and flexible applications. This hardwood is the lumber of choice for crafting traditional American furniture as well as cabinets, musical instruments, yacht and boat interiors, as well as flooring.

Premium Appalachian Cherry Wood

The Prunus serotina species of cherry tree is native to North America and is known as black cherry, rum cherry, or mountain black cherry. The cherry tree reaches heights of 100 feet, with a trunk diameter of four to five feet.

Although populations have been introduced elsewhere, the Appalachian region of the United States contains the highest grade cherry lumber, making the forests of the Mid Atlantic states a prized source of the tree. McIlvain cultivates lumber from the cherry trees in this region (particularly Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley), as these forests have shown to provide the consistent quality our customers require.

Heartwood is the nonliving, inner section of the tree’s trunk, distinguishable from the sapwood which surrounds the heartwood; heartwood is typically used for woodworking, as it shrinks less when dried. Cherry’s heartwood is a rich reddish-brown, which eventually darkens with exposure to air and light. Cherry heartwood is prized for its deep red color and generally straight grain, as well as for its considerable resistance to decay. The sapwood of cherry is distinctly different with a creamy, satiny white color.

Cherry: The Preferred Lumber for Woodworkers

Appalachian cherry wood is easy to cut and saw while strong enough to hold screws and glue tightly. Cherry lumber is also used for smoking and cooking foods; its distinct flavor is unique among other tree species. For decorative applications, the properties of cherry lumber allow for easy staining and finishing to accentuate the natural texture of the wood.

For centuries, the characteristics of the cherry tree have made it the preferred lumber for woodworkers and craftsmen across a wide variety of industries and specialties. McIlvain continues to provide the best quality cherry lumber to satisfy our customers' requirements.