Stems are hollow, often housing small stinging ants. No distinction between sapwood and heartwood, whitish when freshly cut becoming pale brown or oatmeal colored upon exposure. Both of these tests on wood with basic specific gravity of 0.26. The wood air-seasons rapidly but with moderate to severe warp and little checking. The wood is also easy to kiln-dry without excessive seasoning degrade.
Surfaces tend to tear and fuzz in shaping and turning but gives good results in planing and sanding.
Nails readily and holds screws well. Difficult to finish with varnish or lacquer. The wood is very susceptible to attack by decay fungi, termites, and other insects. Prone to blue stain. Wood resembles North American black cottonwood in both density and mechanical properties.