Poplar and aspen are both very popular types of wood. With that being said, there are some major differences between them that you need to know about. Today, we are here to do a side-by-side comparison of both to figure out exactly what makes them different.
The main point of today’s article is to figure out which of these types of wood is ideal for a variety of purposes, whether it be basic construction needs, woodworking, or anything in between.
What Is Poplar?
First is the poplar tree, which is a deciduous tree found mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. There are over 35 different types of poplar trees that can be found in North America, Northern Europe, and Northern Asia.
However, the most commonly found in North America, as well as the most popular for construction, is the yellow poplar, so this is what we will be focusing on here today.
Poplar is technically defined as a hardwood tree, but it’s not actually that hard. It is one of the lighter and softer types of hardwood found in North America. At the same time, it also doesn’t have much resin or natural oils, so it’s not very resistant to moisture, pests, decay, or anything else of the sort. It’s one of the softest and least moisture-resistant types of wood that can be found on the continent.
In terms of appearance, poplar wood has a very straight grain with a tight and uniform texture, and it is quite smooth. It also usually doesn’t have many gaps, knots, or voids. The color of yellow poplar is yellowish or creamy white.
This type of wood is often used for utilitarian purposes, such as for making pallets, crates, slabs, plywood, low-end furniture, decorative pieces, and other low-cost indoor purposes. Just keep in mind that it is extremely affordable, which is why it is so popular with many people.
What Is Aspen?
Then, we have the aspen tree, and here we’re talking about the bigtooth aspen. The bigtooth aspen is one of the most commonly found varieties in North America, and it’s very popular for construction purposes, so this will be our focus.
The bigtooth aspen, as well as all other types of aspen, are actually hardwoods and deciduous. That said, just like poplar, it is definitely not the hardest or heaviest type of hardwood around. It is not the most durable or structurally sound, so it’s not the first choice when it comes to construction purposes.
When it comes to rot and moisture resistance, as well as pest resistance, aspen also doesn’t score very high. It’s just not the type of wood that you want to use outdoors. Aspen is also extremely susceptible to insect attacks and is really only a good choice for indoor purposes.
This wood usually has a straight grain with a medium texture and a low luster, combined with a pale yellow or nearly white sapwood, and a light brown hardwood. Because aspen isn’t the best looking or strongest of trees out there, it’s also used for utilitarian purposes, mainly for things like boxes, crates, veneer, and plywood.
Poplar vs. Aspen: What Are the Differences?
Now that we know what both poplar and aspen are, let’s figure out what makes these two types of wood different from each other.
Hardness
First, we have yellow poplar, which features a Janka hardness rating of 540 lbf. We then have the bigtooth aspen, which comes in at just 420 lbf. As you can see, both of these types of wood are actually very soft, with bigtooth aspen being even softer than poplar.
This means that yellow poplar is slightly more resistant to denting, scratching, and physical impacts, making it the better choice for things like furniture and flooring. With that being said, neither of these types of wood is overly resistant to physical damage, and are both quite soft.
Density
Yellow poplar features a density of 29 lbs per cubic foot, while aspen features a density of 27 lbs per cubic foot. As you can see, both are actually very lightweight. These are some of the lightest woods that you can purchase. However, yellow poplar is slightly heavier than aspen, therefore making it slightly more durable, although also a bit harder to work with.
Pest and Moisture Resistance
Although this is not a difference per se, it is still worth mentioning that both yellow poplar and bigtooth aspen, as well as most other types of poplar and aspen, just are not very resistant to the elements.
Neither of these types of wood handles moisture very well, and both will start to decay fairly quickly. At the same time, neither is pest-resistant in the least and they are both very susceptible to insect damage. Therefore, neither of these types of wood should be used for outdoor purposes. If we have to choose one for outdoor use, it would be yellow poplar, but it’s not ideal.
Overall Strength
If we are talking about overall strength and durability, yellow poplar is the stronger of the two. If we look at the figures in regards to compressive strength, the modulus of elasticity, and the modulus of rupture, yellow poplar scores slightly higher on all of these fronts.
Poplar can bear more weight and take more pressure than bigtooth aspen. With that being said, in the grand scheme of things, when compared to many other types of wood, both score fairly low on all of these fronts.
Workability
What can also be said here is that yellow poplar is by far the easier of the two to work with. It is easy to nail, screw, glue, and everything in between. On the other hand, aspen, although it glues and finishes well, often warps during the drying process, and splits fairly easily, you need very sharp blades to cut it, and it’s also not the best at holding nails.
Appearance – Color and Grain
What is interesting here is that both of these types of wood look fairly similar. Both have yellowish or creamy white wood, with some specimens being light brown, and both have fairly even and straight grains.
All that said, most people would agree that neither of these is anything special to look at. They’re both ideal for utilitarian purposes, although their aesthetic qualities are limited.
Cost
Yellow poplar should not cost you more than $6 per board foot, whereas bigtooth aspen is going to run you about $10 per board foot.
When to Use Poplar?
If you just need a really affordable type of wood that works well for basic indoor purposes, such as for small decorative pieces, basic construction needs, crates, veneer, plywood, and boxes, then yellow poplar is just fine. Just remember that it is not recommended for use in any kind of weight-bearing or structural application, nor should it be used outdoors.
When to Use Aspen?
When it comes down to it, aspen can be used for more or less the same things as yellow poplar. It works just fine for basic indoor utilitarian needs. Things like boxes, crates, veneer, plywood, and other such pieces are prime options for this wood. Just don’t use it for outdoor purposes or anything that needs to bear a lot of weight.
Alternatives to Poplar and Aspen
Neither of these two types of wood is very durable or moisture-resistant. If you need something that can be used outdoors, check out options such as cedar, oak, maple, ebony, mahogany, and teak.
Summary
As you can see, both aspen and poplar serve their own purposes, mainly for indoor utilitarian needs. Their biggest selling points are perhaps that they are just very affordable.