Common Name(s): Quaking Aspen
Scientific Name: Populus tremuloides
Distribution: Canada and northern United States
Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1.0 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 415 kg/m3 (MC 12%)
Shrinkage: Radial: 3.5%, Tangential: 6.7%, Volumetric: 11.5%, T/R Ratio: 1.9
Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to be a light brown. Wide sapwood is a pale yellow to nearly white, and isn’t clearly demarcated, tending to gradually blend into the heartwood.
Grain/Texture: Grain is generally straight, with a uniform medium texture. Low natural luster.
Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; solitary and radial multiples; medium pores in no specific arrangement, moderately numerous to numerous; parenchyma marginal; narrow rays, spacing fairly close.
Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable, and also susceptible to insect attack.
Workability: Easy to work with hand and machine tools, though sharp cutters are necessary when planing to avoid fuzzy surfaces, (subsequent fine-sanding may be necessary to obtain a smooth surface). Does not split easily, and has poor nail-holding capability. Wood has a tendency to warp and distort during drying. Glues and finishes well.
Common Uses: Boxes/crates, veneer, plywood, and various utility purposes.
Comments: So named because the tree’s leaves tremble and quake even in a light breeze. This is caused by the long, flatted stalks (called petioles) on which the leaves are attached to the branches.