Poplar: the complete guide to poplar wood

Poplar is one of the softest and lightest woods in Europe. This hardwood has 55 different species and is used mainly in packaging or in interior fit-out work. After treatment, however, it can also serve for outdoor use and as construction timber.

Would you like to learn more about poplar? WoodPartners explains everything you need to know about poplar wood:

• What is poplar wood?
• What are the characteristics of poplar?
• Poplar wood: for which uses?
• How do you care for poplar wood?
• Other questions about poplar

What is poplar wood?

Poplar wood belongs to the Salicaceae family and its scientific name is Populus. 55 species of poplar are spread across the northern hemisphere. In Europe, the most commonly traded are white poplar and black poplar. In France, poplar is the second most harvested hardwood species after oak.

The favoured habitat of poplar is a damp, non-forest, bright place with fairly rich soil. It is therefore found along watercourses, in hedgerows and in planted rows. Its growth is as fast as its life expectancy is short.

What are the characteristics of poplar?

Poplar is a species that is increasingly used because of its fairly high mechanical properties in relation to its density. White to cream in colour, it sometimes has reddish or greyish shades.

Description of poplar wood

• Colour : white to greyish ;
• Sapwood (the soft, pale-toned part of the wood that forms each year beneath the bark) : not distinct ;
• Texture : fine and even ;
• Grain or fibre direction : straight to wavy ;
• Interlocked grain, or direction contrary to the axis : absent.

The physical properties of poplar wood

• Density (at 12% moisture content with 1 MPa = 1 N/mm²): between 0.32 and 0.55 ;
• Hardness (at 12% moisture content with 1 MPa = 1 N/mm²) : 0.5 — very soft ;
• Volumetric shrinkage coefficient : 14% ;
• Total tangential shrinkage (TS) : 8.4% ;
• Total radial shrinkage (RS) : 4.5% ;
• Stability in service : fairly stable.

The natural durability and treatability of poplar

• Resistance to fungi : class 5, not durable ;
• Resistance to dry-wood insects : class S, susceptible ;
• Resistance to termites : class S, susceptible ;
• Treatability : class 3, difficult to treat ;
• Use class: class 1, for indoor use.

It is important to note that once treated using pressure treatment, for example, poplar can reach class 3 or 4 for outdoor use.

Drying poplar wood

• Drying speed : normal ;
• Risk of case-hardening (accidental hardening) : can be avoided with kiln drying ;
• Risk of surface checks (splits) : none ;

Sawing and machining poplar wood

• Blunting effect : normal ;
• Saw teeth for sawing : ordinary or alloy steel ;
• Machining tools : ordinary ;
• Suitability for rotary peeling : excellent ;
• Suitability for slicing : excellent.

Joining poplar

For joining poplar, two steps matter:

• Nailing and screwing : good holding ;
• Gluing : average to good.

Poplar wood: for which uses?

Recognised as a "food-grade" timber according to a 2015 study by Emabois, poplar finds its main use in the manufacture of packaging products. Wondering what to do with poplar wood? Crates, pallets and cheese boxes are made of poplar. What is more, it can also be used in interior fit-out work and as construction timber because of its light weight.

• Poplar packaging : crates, pallets and fruit baskets are all uses to which poplar is put.

• Interior fit-out work : having good suitability for rotary peeling and being easy to shape, it can be used in interior fit-out work for panelling, furniture or decorative panels, for example. Its appearance and its even white colour appeal to many.

• Outdoor use : after treatment, poplar can serve for decking or for cladding.

• Poplar as construction timber : poplar is often used as construction timber in the north of France for the frame and the roof structure of certain buildings.

How do you care for poplar wood?

Caring for poplar wood depends on how it is used. If it is used as cladding, it needs very little maintenance because it will already have been treated beforehand to suit that use. To care for poplar in your interior fit-out work, you can follow this advice:

• If the poplar is lacquered : you must take precautions and use gentle products so as not to damage the wood ;

• If the poplar wood is waxed : your waxed pieces need regular dusting, rubbing gently with a microfibre cloth ;

• If the poplar wood is varnished : you can simply take a soft cloth to care for your varnished poplar wood.

Other questions about poplar

What is the price of poplar wood?

The price of poplar wood varies according to its use. The average cost of standing poplar is around 10 euros per m3 but it can rise to 50 euros per m3. For plywood panels, the price ranges between 25 and 75 euros depending on the dimensions and the thickness required.

Is poplar a good firewood?

Poplar is a good firewood for periods of lower energy demand such as autumn or spring, because it burns quickly but its calorific value is lower.

Poplar is valued for its light weight and its softness in the construction world. Used mainly to make packaging, poplar wood also serves in interior and outdoor fit-out work, once it has undergone a suitable treatment. Now you know all about poplar wood thanks to WoodPartners.