Poplar and aspen are lightweight, and soft, hardwoods with very good strength to weight. They provide a source of lumber, but are most commonly converted into veneer and plywood. Their relatively low density is very advantageous in engineered wood products for both non-load bearing and structural applications. A sheet of 18 mm poplar plywood, for example, weights around 20 kg, compared to 25 kg for the same product in spruce and over 35 kg for another hardwood, such as beech or birch.

They are often compared to softwoods, such as spruce and pine, which provide a valuable source of construction lumber. Poplar and aspen are similar, but are not as hard, stiff or strong. Also, the tress are not as large and tend to be covered with knots, making the lumber less reliable. So, even though poplar and aspen grown fast and the trees are plentiful, they are not consumed in the same way as spruce and pine.

Perhaps their most familiar application is in matches. Relatively easy to cut and machine, and with good resistance to splitting, uniform density (doesn’t burn too fast or too slow) and high stiffness to weight, they make the perfect matchstick. Poplar is traditionally used to make clogs. Used to protect the feet of fisherman, farmers and craft workers, they provide a low-cost alternative to leather boots. Today, they are officially accredited as safety shoes with the European CE mark.

These woods cannot be used outdoors unless treated in some way. They are vulnerable to rot and insect attack. In wet conditions, they will decay rapidly.