It's white to green to purple to brown. It sands and cuts real nice. It sounds like it is actual Poplar. It says poplar on the label too.

> This question was posted on another BB this summer. The following
> is my response with additions.

> Folks often confuse "Poplar" and "Aspen",
> which is also called "Popple". My understanding(?) is that
> Poplar is a large tree similar to Cottonwood, with yellowish color,
> and I know little to nothing about it.

> If you are using "Poplar" to refer to Aspen (Popple),
> my experience is as follows.

> The hardness can vary from soft to very hard, and the color from
> almost white to reds and dark browns. It is possible to get light
> colored, modest weight peices. (The white stuff seen in stores is
> the prime wood and the bulk of the wood is not "clear" white.)
> It sands OK when using fine paper (150g) but leaves torn strands of
> fiber with course (60 to 100g). It also needs a very sharp blade to
> cut (rip) smoothly.

> It can look very beautiful however.

> I just finished spending 3 years putting almost 2k bf on a cabin
> ceiling, and used some leftover pieces to make the stems for a striper,
> and am considering using it for some of the trim also. I think that
> a boat of Aspen will certainly be heavier than one of cedar.

> It is MUCH harder to work than either pine or red or white cedar,(it
> is much stiffer and doesn't bend well).

> I would re-iterate a comment from another post, if you have some,
> consider it for trim, I would NOT go out a buy some for a boat no
> matter what the cost (the extra work is not worth it).

> Good Luck Dan