Poplar
Scientific Name: Populus Spp
Other Common Names: Tulipwood, Tulip-Poplar, White-Poplar, Yellow Poplar, Whitewood
Yellow Poplar thrives in the Eastern United States, growing quickly and abundantly. This fast-growing hardwood is popular for its straight grain and uniform texture, qualities that make it excellent for painting and staining.
Poplar usually displays a light color palette that can feature green overtones, but can also have purple streaks. It will darken over time with UV exposure and appear tanned if areas are covered. Though softer than many hardwoods, Poplar is still durable enough for a range of uses and is particularly easy to machine. It’s often chosen for carving, crafting detailed work without splitting, and is frequently used in the production of furniture, doors and architectural millwork for interiors.
Screwing/Nailing
Quick Fact:
Poplar is the Swiss Army knife of hardwoods, often serving as an economical option for everything from construction to furniture.
- Furniture
- Interior Doors
- Millwork
- Moulding
- Baskets
- Picture Frames
- Lightweight and soft
- Paint-friendly surface
- Smooth grain texture
- Cost-effective hardwood
- Durable and stable
NWH Appalachian is available as PEFC certified, FSC Mix Credit, FSC Controlled Wood or PEFC Controlled Sources.
How Does Poplar Compare To Other North American Hardwood Species?
| Lumber (12 % moisture content) | Machining | Sanding | Finishing | Gluing | Fastening/ Nailing/ Screwing | Weight per bdft | Specific Gravity (Density) | Hardness (Janka) | Bending Strength (MOR) | Bending Stiffness (MOE) | Dimensional Movement (Shrinkage) R (%) | Dimensional Movement (Shrinkage) T (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alder | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 2.45 | .41 | 590 | 9,800 | 1,380 | 4.4 | 7.3 |
| Ash | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 3.56 | .61 | 1,320 | 15,000 | 1,740 | 4.9 | 7.8 |
| Basswood | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 2.50 | .37 | 410 | 8,700 | 1,460 | 6.6 | 9.3 |
| Beech | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 3.69 | .64 | 1,260 | 14,900 | 1,720 | 5.5 | 11.9 |
| Cherry | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 3.07 | .52 | 950 | 12,300 | 1,490 | 3.7 | 7.1 |
| Hickory | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4.14 | .67 | 1,820 | 13,700 | 1,730 | 4.9 | 8.9 |
| Hard Maple | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 3.73 | .64 | 1,450 | 15,800 | 1,830 | 4.8 | 9.9 |
| PC Maple | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 2.74 | .50 | 850 | 10,700 | 1,450 | 3.7 | 7.1 |
| Soft Maple | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 3.19 | .55 | 950 | 13,400 | 1,640 | 4.0 | 8.2 |
| Red Oak (Northern) | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 3.64 | .63 | 1,220 | 14,380 | 1,761 | 4.0 | 8.6 |
| Oregon White Oak | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4.34 | .72 | 1,640 | 10,200 | 1,090 | 4.2 | 9.0 |
| White Oak (Eastern) | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 3.94 | .68 | 1,350 | 14,380 | 1,762 | 4.4 | 8.8 |
| Poplar | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 2.81 | .43 | 540 | 10,100 | 1,580 | 4.6 | 8.2 |
| Walnut | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 3.36 | .56 | 1,010 | 14,600 | 1,680 | 5.5 | 7.8 |
| Yellow Birch | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 3.53 | .62 | 1,260 | 16,600 | 2,010 | 7.3 | 9.5 |
Grades Available
- Moldings & Millwork
- Entry Doors
- Furniture
- Painted Cabinets
- Moldings & Millwork
- Upholstered Furniture Frames
- Drawer Sides
- Small Specialty Items
- Upholstered Furniture Frames
- Drawer Sides
- Small Specialty Items
- Pallets
