Wild cherry is a small, fast growing, deciduous tree up to 25m in height with a straight cylindrical trunk. Native to the middle east, in France it occupies 32 000 ha. of sustainably managed forest. Highly rated for timber it can be harvested between 50 and 60 years of age.
Wood description
Wild cherry sapwood is pinky in colour and distinctive from the reddish brown heartwood. It is a fine textured wood, with a straight, silvery grain.
Preserving
Not easily impregnated, it is suitable for interior use.
Physical and mechanical properties
A solid and dense wood, cherry has good mechanical properties ( resistance to compression, traction and bending); however, it undergoes moderate shrinkage during drying and can in some instances be quite fibrous.
| Average density | 610 kg/mᶟ |
| Total average volumetric shrinkage | 13.5 % |
| Brinell hardness perpendicular to the fibres | 29 N/mm² |
| Modulus of rupture under bending | 96 MPa |
| Breaking stress under axial compression | 49 MPa |
| Modulus of longitudinal elasticity under bending | 10 200 MPa |
Conditions of implementation
Main uses
Wild cherry is well suited for interior joinery and turnery, fittings, furniture, veneers and decorative panelling.
