Hardwoods and Softwoods

To this point we have discussed the chemical and physical makeup of trees, how they are cut and how they are dried. But the question often arises, "What is the difference between a softwood and a hardwood?" First of all, it has absolutely nothing to do with the comparative hardness of the two. Some hardwoods are softer than softwoods, and vice versa. In fact boxwood and aspen are two very soft hardwoods, while fir and longleaf line are very hard softwoods. Try saying that ten times really fast! Both hardwoods and softwoods are woody vascular plants but the characteristics of the tree itself, not the wood that is contained therein are used to make the differentiation.

The difference between softwoods and hardwoods has to do with their relative biology of reproduction and some other distinctive physical attributes. Softwoods are gymnosperms; the term gymnosperm is Latin for naked seeds. This refers to the fact that their seeds are not enclosed in an ovary. They are also known as conifers or evergreens and are cone-bearing. They typically have waxy, needle-like leaves that stay on the tree year round, although there are exceptions to this such as the larch and cypress. The lumber produced from softwoods has no vessels or pores so the density or the wood is much more uniform.

Hardwoods are angiosperms and their seeds are enclosed in the ovary of their flowers. The end grain of a hardwood contains pores, or vessels, which are wood fibers that have no top or bottom. They are stacked end on end forming pipelines for water and sap that extend from the roots to the top of the tree. This phenomenon only occurs in hardwoods. They have broad leaves that are usually lost in the winter, thus they are also known as deciduous trees.

Other than the basic differences in biology, the choice of which wood to use is up to you. Most fine furniture is made of hardwoods, but there are beautiful examples of woodworking that are made from wood of all species. Know how to read the grain, stick to heartwood, and use the species you feel is best suited to the project.