Alder or Popular

[Hemlock121]

Just a tree identification question.  In the US, most places carry Alder for casework.  Is the Popular or Trembling Aspen found in Ontario the same tree, or is it something different?  Ive heard the names interchanged but don't think they are the same.

[alecs]

In Vermont, Aspen is called Popple.  In Massachusetts, casework comes in Poplar, which I always thought was tulip poplar, but I may be wrong.
I don't think they are the same.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populus_tremuloides
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liriodendron_tulipifera  

[beenthere]

What Kind of Wood Is Alder? | Home Guides | SF Gate

And the poplar referred to is likely yellow poplar or also tulip poplar. There is no wood named popular, but often that word spelling is used. 

[Ianab]

Alder and Tulip Poplar are both fairly light (weight and colour) woods, but are useful fine grained hardwoods. Totally different species, but they could probably be used interchangeably for trim work, depending on what's available locally.  

This is the Common Alder.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnus_glutinosa#Timber

This is Tulip Poplar.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liriodendron_tulipifera#Wood

[Ron Wenrich]

Alder is a west coast wood.  Tulip poplar is an east coast wood.  Aspen has a wide range, primarily in northern North America.  I've heard aspen called poplar.  However, Lumber mfg generally consider poplar to be tulip poplar or yellow poplar (same tree), not aspen.  Alder is not the same as aspen.

[PoginyHill]

In the hardwood plywood industry, quaking aspen and tulip poplar are common core species. Veneer core plywood made in Canada will be aspen. Veneer core in the US, east of the Mississippi, will likely be tulip poplar. Both have common characteristics: rather soft, have green colored heartwood and cut smoothly on a lathe. Tulip poplar is also used as a face for hardwood plywood, but not aspen - generally not enough clear wood in aspen to make that feasible. Tulip used for face veneer can have character, particularly if you like deep purple color streaks or purple-shaded growth rings, but is generally used for paint-grade applications, not a clear or stained finish.

Alder is used as a face on hardwood plywood and is very decorative; both clear and knotty grades are popular on the west coast for cabinets and furniture. It is not cut rotary, but either plain sliced or lumber sliced - I'm guessing because the tree does not grow to be a very large diameter. I'm not at all familiar with the alder tree.

[Hemlock121]

Thank you all for the correction in the wood naming. My bad.

I must have tulip poplar on my property.  I haven't seen anyone really use it, but I will mill some up and see how it works for trim.

Thanks all!

[Ron Wenrich]

Given your location, unless you're around Hamilton, Ont, you're out of the range for tulip poplar.  I'm betting on aspen, unless you have a property on the east coast.

Here's a range map for tulip poplar.

Liriodendron tulipifera - Yellow poplar Range Map

[Hemlock121]

Ron,

You are absolutely correct.  My place is further northeast so couldn't be tulip poplar.  ALECS said that in Vermont, Aspen is called Popple so perhaps that what I have?

[Ron Wenrich]

In many areas, aspen is called poplar.  The separation comes in the commercial lumber industry where poplar is generally tulip poplar.

Populus tremuloides - Quaking aspen Range Map

[barbender]

Yes Aspen is called Popple in many areas. Aspen could be used for the same things that Tulip poplar is, but it isn't quite as well behaved. It is soft, but also brittle and has a surprising amount of tension in it sometimes. In my area the vast majority of it goes to pulpwood, in either paper, OSB, or cellulosic fiber production. Some saw timber goes for pallet lumber.

[barbender]

Also, I think calling aspen "popple" comes from German, the German word for cottonwood is "pappel". Just my theory.