Aspen

Botanical Name

Populus tremuloides

Other Common Names

Quaking Aspen

Region

Canada and Northern United States

The Tree

The tree is reported to mature to heights of 65-100 foot tall.

Appearance

The heartwood tends to be a light brown. The sapwood is a pale yellow to nearly white.

Properties

Aspen’s grain is generally straight with a medium texture.

Working Properties

Aspen is easy to work with hand and machine tools. It is necessary to use sharp knives when planning to avoid fuzzy surfaces. It does not split easily and has poor nail holding capacity.

Uses

The wood is used for boxes, crates, veneer and plywood.