Whitewood lumber is a type of wood that is sold by many home improvement stores and is often the cheapest possible option for wood, making it appealing to people on a budget or who are unconfident in their DIY skills and don’t want to waste expensive wood. Technically speaking, whitewood refers to wood that comes from the tulip tree, which is also known as Liriodendron tulipifera, American tulip tree, tulip poplar, fiddle-tree, or yellow poplar. Whitewood is a versatile and easy-to-work-with wood that is popular for small items, furniture frames, plywood, small carpentry projects, and interior doors. It is relatively soft and has a straight grain that makes it easy to finish. However, it is not easy to cut, and its softness limits its use to smaller items or ornamental items. Whitewood is often compared to pine, and the difference between them is hard to spot. In fact, sometimes pine is sold under the name whitewood, depending on the region. Whitewood is also sometimes labeled as "whitewood SYP," which stands for southern yellow pine.