The color of tree wood depends on several factors, primarily the tree species and age. Freshly cut live wood often has a lighter color, while older dead wood tends to be darker from oxidation and UV exposure over time. The natural pigments and extractives in each tree species also affect the distinctive coloration.
Some quick answers regarding tree wood color:
– Fresh pine wood is pale yellow or whitish. Aged pine wood darkens to a reddish brown.
– Oak wood is typically pale to medium brown when fresh. It darkens into a deep golden or russet brown with age.
– Cherry wood is pinkish red when first cut. As it’s exposed to light, it oxidizes into a rich reddish brown.
– Fresh cedar wood is light pinkish tan. Over time it weathers to a silvery gray.
– Walnut wood is a distinctive chocolate brown when cut and maintains this color.
– Maple wood is creamy white to light brown when first cut. It yellows slowly as it ages.
Factors Affecting Wood Color
Several key factors influence the range of colors seen in tree wood:
Tree Species: The natural pigments present in each tree species have a major impact on its characteristic wood color. For instance, walnut wood gets its deep brown color from juglone, an iron-based quinone pigment. Cherry wood contains anthocyanins, reddish antioxidant pigments. Pine contains lower levels of pigment, so it remains relatively light.
Heartwood vs Sapwood: The heartwood at the interior of a tree trunk generally appears darker than the outer sapwood. Heartwood contains more natural pigments and polyphenols, as well as deposited waste and defensive compounds. Sapwood is newer growth that still transports sap so it retains fewer colorants.
Age: As wood ages, it tends to darken through oxidation from exposure to air and UV light. The natural pigments react over time to produce darker compounds. Additional colorants may also accumulate in the wood cells. Older trees tend to have a higher proportion of darker heartwood.
Weathering: Sun, moisture, fungi, and other environmental factors can extract, degrade, or modify the natural pigments and polyphenols in wood. This chemical alteration impacts the resulting color, such as turning cedar wood gray.
Wood Color by Tree Type
The typical color range for several major tree species is summarized below:
| Tree Type | Fresh Wood Color | Aged Wood Color |
|---|---|---|
| Pine | Pale yellowish white | Reddish brown |
| Oak | Pale to medium brown | Golden or russet brown |
| Cherry | Pinkish red | Rich reddish brown |
| Cedar | Light pinkish tan | Silvery gray |
| Walnut | Chocolate brown | Chocolate brown |
| Maple | Creamy white to light brown | Yellowish brown |
As shown above, freshly cut wood from pine, oak, cherry, and maple exhibits lighter colors than the same wood after years of aging. Cedar undergoes a more dramatic change from tan to gray as it weathers. Walnut maintains its characteristic chocolate brown color regardless of age.
Visual Characteristics by Wood Type
In addition to variations in color, the visual appearance of each wood type has distinctive traits:
Pine: Yellow pine sapwood is nearly white, while the heartwood is light brown. Growth rings are clearly delineated by the stark color contrast. Pine has a straight, uniform grain without much figure. Knots, streaks, and resin pockets are common.
Oak: Oak wood has an open, porous grain pattern. The broad rays produce flecks across quarter sawn surfaces. Quartersawn white oak is light tan with a silver grain; quartersawn red oak is reddish brown.
Cherry: This wood has a fine, straight grain with fairly uniform texture. Freshly planed cherry has a lively, reddish luster. The grain may naturally exhibit wavy or curly patterns.
Cedar: The grain of cedar wood is generally straight and even-textured, though some species have a varied grain. It has a warm, resinous fragrance. Heartwood is a dull brown, while sapwood is creamy white.
Walnut: Walnut wood is prized for its rich brown color and flowing grain pattern. It has a moderately coarse, open grain with darker streaks. Figured cuts may display curly or crotch grain.
Maple: Hard maple has a fine, uniform texture with creamy white sapwood and light brown heartwood. The growth rings form a distinctive flaky ripple pattern. Bird’s eye maple exhibits small rounded knots.
Finishing Effects
While the base color of each wood species provides its general visual identity, stains and finishes can modify the color. Some finishing effects to note:
– Oil finishes accentuate the natural grain and colors of wood. The oils enhance depth and luster while allowing the wood to remain breathable.
– Stains transparently tint the natural coloring of the wood. For instance, cherry can be stained to a warmer red or maple stained darker for an aged effect.
– Painted finishes completely obscure the wood color beneath an opaque topcoat. Though the natural grain may still be visible.
– Bleaching removes or lightens natural pigment to yield a whiter, brighter wood. It’s commonly used on pine and maple prior to staining.
– Sunlight, heat, and oxidation over time will change the color of even finished wood, especially solid stains. Periodic refinishing is needed to maintain color.
Conclusion
The diverse colors of wood arise from the unique mix of organic chemicals within each tree species. While genetics determines the baseline pigmentation, exposure over time modifies wood’s visual characteristics. When using wood in projects, the choice of species, cut, finish, and maintenance practices all impact the final color that is observed. From the pale uniformity of pine to the lively grain of cherry or rustic charm of weathered cedar, the spectrum of wood colors offers great versatility for both practical and aesthetic uses.