Poplar. Poplar is a hardwood tree that produces soft wood when compared to other hardwood trees. The hardness of poplar is about on par with that of pine or cedar, but the cellular structure gives it a much finer grain and more pleasing appearance than the more coarsely grained softwoods.Click to see full answer. Hereof, is Poplar a strong wood?The question may arise in your mind: “But is poplar wood strong?” and the answer is yes, but it isn’t as hard as most hardwoods, with a hardness rating less than that of some species of cedar, which is a softwood.Also, what type of wood is poplar? hardwood Just so, is Poplar a good wood for furniture? Poplar is one of the less expensive hardwoods. Because poplar is not the most beautiful wood, it’s rarely used in fine furniture, and if it is, it’s almost always painted. Poplar can be a good choice for drawers (where it won’t be seen) because it is stable and inexpensive.What is the best finish for poplar wood?Poplar takes both oil-based and latex paint extremely well. Paint looks very good on poplar and will easily disguise any imperfections. As with any wood, it’s a good idea to prime first, and then apply a couple of light paint coats, instead of just applying one heavy coat. Poplar also looks great stained.