Species guide
American Black Cherry: what the numbers tell you.
What Black Cherry facts can tell you about a floor.
Direct answer
NWFA lists 950 for Black American Cherry. The wood can grow darker with light and age. This page cannot tell you the final color or when it will change.
See the wood, then read the numbers
A photo can show character. It cannot prove the species.
Use the measured record below to compare the named wood. Then compare real samples in the room where the floor will live.
How to read these figures
Cherry can change color over time. That is normal for the wood. It cannot tell us how one room, board, or finish will look.
Sources & methodology Peer-reviewed measurements and study context
These figures come from clear-wood laboratory data in the cited peer-reviewed study. They help you compare species; your own floor’s construction, finish history, and condition still matter.
| Metric | Reported value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| NWFA Janka value | 950 | Material reference, not an installed-floor performance outcome. |
| Specific gravity | 0.50 | NWFA published figure. |
| Shrinkage from green to oven dry | 3.7% radial / 7.1% tangential | NWFA’s dimensional-stability context. |
| Color behavior | Natural darkening with age/light | NWFA describes variation and a light-accelerated color change; it provides no guaranteed timing or final shade. |
Reviewed October 6, 2026. The paper measures clear wood in a lab. At your visit, we look at the real floor, room, and project plan.