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frequently asked questions:
Is there a difference between poplar and popple?
answer: There is often confusion about these two hardwoods and for good reason. The poplar most prized for architectural woodwork is yellow poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera. The tree grows in the eastern U.S. and Cananda.
Aspen is widespread throughout the U.S. and Canada, but its primary commercial use is for crates and pulpwood. The wood is a consistent white, but prone to warp and twist, and not generally available in wide widths. There is also a frequent fuzzy grain that does not respond well to sandpaper. These limitations are not present is yellow poplar, which is available in good widths and lengths and machines consistently. Yellow poplar is primarily white with a light brown heartwood and is the first choice for painted interior woodwork. The heartwood turns green with exposure to daylight, but if stained requires a medium to dark pigment to overcome the green. Another alternative is to sort for white but because yellow poplar is primarily sold as a paint grade wood, sticker staining may be present and prevent a satisfactory result.
Neither wood is recommended for exterior use, and neither wood exhibits much in grain character.
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