Poplar
Also known as Yellow Poplar, Tulipwood, Liriodendron tulipifera.
Liriodendron tulipifera (Magnoliaceae) · Eastern United States
Poplar is the shop's go-to paint-grade hardwood — inexpensive, stable, and about as easy to machine as a hardwood gets. When a project is going to be painted, poplar gives you a smooth, dent-resistant surface and clean detail for a fraction of the cost of oak or maple.
The green and purple streaks that run through it disappear under paint, which is where most of it ends up: trim, moulding, furniture frames, and cabinet parts. It is also a friendly wood to learn on. We keep kiln-dried poplar in a range of sizes for millwork shops and builders — ask us about long trim stock and sheet-good pairings.
Appearance
Color. Creamy white to yellowish-brown, often with streaks of green, gray, or purple.
Grain. Straight and uniform.
Texture. Medium, even texture.
Working & finishing
One of the easiest hardwoods to work — it cuts, planes, and sands cleanly and holds detail. Soft enough to dent and fuzzy under dull tools, so keep edges sharp. Takes paint superbly.
Drying. Dries easily and quickly with little degrade and good stability.
Durability
Non-durable; an interior and paint-grade wood.
Common uses
Looking for Poplar?
We stock and mill a wide range of species and grades. Tell us your sizes and we'll confirm availability and pricing — usually within one business day.