Cherry

Cherry is a warm reddish hardwood that darkens beautifully with age. This section covers staining and treating cherry, its characteristics, and safety.

Working & finishing: stain cherry and treat cherry.

Characteristics: how cherry darkens, cherry’s smell, and is cherry toxic.

About cherry trees: native range.

For how cherry compares with other species, see our types of wood guide.

Does cherry wood darken over time? Yes — cherry deepens to a rich reddish-brown with light exposure, so avoid uneven covering while it ages.

Is cherry wood toxic? Cherry dust can irritate, and the leaves/bark are toxic to animals, but finished cherry wood is safe for furniture and food-contact with a food-safe finish.