Is Poplar A Hardwood Or Softwood

Poplar is a hardwood but it s not very hard.

Is poplar a hardwood or softwood.

The gymnosperms which include conifers such as pines and cedars are called softwoods. Poplar wood is considered a hardwood by species but this can be somewhat confusing as it is typically softer than pine a common softwood. The hardness of poplar is about on par with that of pine or cedar but the cellular structure gives it a much finer grain and more pleasing appearance than the more coarsely grained softwoods. Botanically speaking poplar is an angiosperm which is referred to as hardwood.

Poplar is an example of a tree that is technically a hardwood but had density and hardness that is more typical of a softwood. As mentioned poplar is a hardwood even though it is not a particularly hard wood. In most instances poplar or at least the wood sold as poplar in home centers is actually the wood from the tulip tree. Maple walnut ash cherry and oak all fit into this category.

The density of a wood is determined based on the multiple growths and physiological factors such as age diameter height radial growth geographical location site and growing conditions etc. Wood is categorized into two groups based on their density as softwood and hardwood. Is poplar a hardwood or a softwood. I d only use it in low budget applications because it s so soft.

The distinction between and softwood is related to how the species produces seeds. Poplar is a hardwood tree that produces soft wood when compared to other hardwood trees. Poplar woods are unsuitable for projects requiring hardwood. That s because the terms hardwood and softwood are rather misleading.

In general hardwood trees grow slowly and as a result are more hard and dense but this isnt always the case. Blue ash has the highest janka rating at 2 030 with a specific gravity of 0 58. Softwood comes from gymnosperm trees like cedar. It s important to explain that hardwood is not necessarily a term that refers to the strength of the wood.

A lower grade of maple will yield much better results for both durability and quality of finish. However the terms hardwood and softwood don t necessarily dictate whether a tree s lumber is comparatively soft or hard in terms of density. For example poplar is technically a hardwood but it is softer than some kinds of pine which is a softwood. It is considered to be one of the hardest types of softwoods in some circles while being classified a hardwood at the softer end of the scale in others.

However both categorizations can be considered to be correct.