Cherry lumber is popular for fine furniture and flooring due to its reddish-brown color and durability. American cherry grows in the eastern US, while other varieties are grown in Mexico and South America. The wood is popular for paneling, veneers, and decorative projects. Brazilian cherry has interlocking grains and is used for medicinal purposes. Cherry trees contain prunasin, making the wood unsuitable for cooking utensils. The wood is susceptible to pests, animals, and wood rot.
When people think of cherry trees, some are reminded of the story of US President George Washington, who was said to have chopped down one with an ax and then admitted to the deed because he couldn’t tell a lie. It’s no lie, however, that cherry lumber is the material of choice for fine cabinets, floors, and furniture. Its reddish-brown color and straight grain make it easy to stain, sand and cut, and the wood is quite durable. American cherry lumber grows in the eastern United States, and other varieties are grown commercially in Mexico and some countries in South America.
Cherry is characterized by the presence of sapwood and heartwood in the boards. Reddish colored heartwood is generally preferred by carpenters over the yellowish tint of sapwood. If sapwood is dried too quickly, the wood can later warp, especially if one side of the lumber is sapwood and the other side is pure heartwood. Cherry lumber that contains only heartwood is considered rare and can be expensive.
The wood is popular for paneling and for constructing attractive frames for works of art, such as etchings. One of the most common uses of cherry lumber is for making veneers because it bends easily but remains strong. Some architects use wood to add interest and beauty to decorative projects.
Brazilian cherry trees grow in rainforests and can reach impressive heights. The wood is characterized by a gray colored bark that exudes bark gum. This reddish or pinkish cherry lumber consists of interlocking grains that appear to glow when finished. Its bark gum is used in paints and for medicinal purposes as a panacea and for coughs. Lumberjacks working in Brazil prefer bark tea, drinking it to restore energy.
Black cherry bark extract is the main ingredient in wild cherry syrup used for the production of jellies and wine. Cherry trees also contain a toxin called prunasin in their foliage and seed pits. If ingested, the substance could form hydrogen cyanide when it meets digestive juices. The toxin makes cherry wood a poor choice for wooden cutting boards, salad bowls, and spoons used in cooking.
Sometimes called curly lumber, the wood is susceptible to fire, animals and pests. Rabbits and deer feed on young shoots, and caterpillars can strip a tree of its leaves. If porcupines gnaw on the bark of cherry trees, they provide an opening for bark beetles to infest the tree. Wood rot is another condition that makes cherry lumber scarce for commercial uses.
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