Poplar

Species Detail

The Basics

Poplar is one of the most prolific hardwood species from the U.S. hardwood forests and is unique to North America, having been eliminated in Europe by the last ice age.

Poplar has less strong grain characteristic than species such as ash and oak, and is more like maple in character but darker in color. However, there is a marked difference between the sapwood and heartwood of poplar. The sapwood is creamy white whereas the heartwood can vary from pale yellow or brown and even green to purple in extreme cases. The wood darkens with time on exposure to UV light and the green color will turn brown. The wood of poplar is straight-grained with a medium to fine texture.

Scientific Name

Liriodendron tulipifera

Also Known As

Poplar, Yellow Poplar, Tulip Poplar, Canary Whitewood

Avg. Board Length

Avg. Dried Weight

2.3 lbs/bdft

6’ – 16’

6” – 14”

4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4, 10/4, 12/4. 16/4

Avg. Board Width

Common Thicknesses

Species

Overview

Where It Comes From

Growth

Distribution

Poplar trees grow exclusively in North America and are widely distributed throughout most of the eastern United States in mixed hardwood forests. It is a single species and is not a poplar (Populus) being a Magnoliacae producing wood that is superior to the many poplar species. The trees are huge and identified by their tulip-like flowers giving rise to the name. Tulipwood grows from north to south and is one of the most sustainable hardwoods in the USA.

FIA data shows U.S. tulipwood growing stock is 1.12 billion m3, 7.7% of total U.S. hardwood growing stock. American tulipwood is growing 34.6 million m3 per year while the harvest is 12.8 million m3 per year. The net volume (after harvest) is increasing 21.8 million m3 each year. U.S. tulipwood growth exceeds harvest in all states.

Tulipwood is readily available as sawn lumber in a wide range of grades and thicknesses (4/4” through to 16/4”) due to its ease of drying. A relative knot free timber average lumber widths and lengths can be higher than other commercial species. Tulipwood is used in plywood production but with more limited availability as decorative veneer. The sapwood produces the often preferred whiter wood, as the heartwood usually exhibits strong color variation. However the use of unsorted tulipwood displaying all its natural color variation is on the increase, especially in Europe. Tulipwood is sold domestically, and sometimes referred to in export, as ‘poplar’ but should not be confused with European or Chinese poplar.

0-4K

4-8K

8-12K

12-16K

16-20K

20-24K

Volume of live trees on forest land, 1000 m³

Uses

Common

Applications

This sustainably managed wood from natural forests of North America, with excellent environmental credentials, is a key species in many export markets. Its main uses are in furniture, doors, panelling, architectural interior joinery and mouldings and kitchen cabinets. It is also used in certain applications for construction and in some specialist applications such as carving.