Is This “Wood” Softwood? – A simple guide to common softwoods


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A List Of Common Softwoods

Is Pine A Softwood?

Pine is a common softwood in the Northern Hemisphere. Pine is a coniferous evergreen tree, it produces pinecones, and it has needles as leaves. This makes Pine a softwood. A common species of Pine is the Sugar Pine, Sugar Pine has a Janka hardness rating of 380lbf which is a relatively low density compared to other types of wood.

Learn The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood: Check Out This Article

Is Cedar A Softwood?

Cedar is a softwood that grows in the Himalayas and Mediterranean. Cedar is a coniferous evergreen tree, it produces cones, and it has needles as leaves. This makes Cedar a softwood. Cedars in North America are not true cedars by species, they just have the same name as them. A species of Cedar is the Cedar Of Lebanon which has a Janka hardness rating of 820lbf which is pretty dense for softwood.

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Is Spruce a Softwood?

Spruce is a common softwood in temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Spruce is a coniferous evergreen tree, it produces cones, and it has needles as leaves. This makes Spruce a softwood. A common species of Spruce is the Norway spruce. Norway spruce has a Janka hardness rating of 380lbf which is fairly average for softwoods.

Learn The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood: Check Out This Article

Is Fir A Softwood?

Fir is a common softwood in mountainous regions in the northern hemisphere. Fir is a coniferous evergreen tree, it produces cones, and it has needles as leaves. This makes Fir a softwood. A common species of Fir is the Grand Fir. Grand Fir has a Janka hardness rating of 490lbf which is fairly average for softwoods.

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Is Yew A Softwood?

Yew is a softwood species that can be found in Western Canada, northwestern us, and many parts of Europe. Yew is known for being one of the hardest softwoods. A common species of Yew in Europe is the European Yew. European Yew has a Janka hardness rating of 1520lbf, which is very hard and dense for being a softwood.

Learn The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood: Check Out This Article

Is Juniper A Softwood?

Juniper is a softwood that grows in Europe, Africa, America, and Asia. Junipers can be shrubs or trees. Junipers are evergreen, they produce juniper berries as seeds which is a type of modified conifer cone, and has needles as leaves. This makes Juniper a softwood. A common species of Juniper in the Southwestern US is the Alligator Juniper. Alligator Juniper has a Janka hardness rating of 1160lbf which is fairly dense for softwood.

Learn The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood: Check Out This Article

Is Larch A Softwood?

Larch is a softwood that grows well in temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere. The Larch tree is evergreen, it produces cones as seeds, and has needles for leaves. This makes Larch a softwood. A common and very large species of Larch in North America is the Western Larch. The Western Larch has a Janka hardness rating of 830lbf, which is a bit denser than the average softwood.

Learn The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood: Check Out This Article

Is Oak A Softwood?

Oak is not a softwood. Oak is a hardwood tree. Oaks shed their leaves seasonally, produce protected seeds, and produce new wide and flat leaves each spring. This makes Oak a hardwood. A common species of Oak in North America is the Bur Oak. The Bur Oak has a Janka hardness rating of 1360lbf.

Learn The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood: Check Out This Article

Is Maple A Softwood?

Maple is not a softwood. Maple is a hardwood. Maple trees shed their leaves seasonally, produce protected seeds, and produce new wide and flat leaves each spring. This makes Maple a hardwood. A common species of Maple in North America is the Silver Maple. Silver Maple has a Janka Hardness rating of 700lbf, which is a fairly average density for a hardwood tree.

Learn The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood: Check Out This Article

Is Walnut A Softwood?

Walnut is not a softwood. The Walnut tree is a hardwood tree. Walnut trees shed their leaves seasonally, produce protected seeds, and produce new wide and flat leaves each spring. This makes Walnut a hardwood tree. A common species of walnut in North America is the Butternut tree. Butternut has a Janka Hardness rating of 490lbf, which is fairly soft for hardwood.

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Is Cherry A Hardwood?

Cherry is not a softwood. The Cherry tree is a hardwood tree. Cherry trees shed their leaves seasonally, produce protected seeds, and produce new wide and flat leaves each spring. This makes the Cherry tree a hardwood tree. A common species of Cherry in North America is the Black Cherry tree. Black Cherry has a Janka hardness rating of 950lbf, which is a normal density for hardwood.

Learn The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood: Check Out This Article

Is Birch A Softwood?

Birch is not a softwood. The Birch tree is a hardwood tree. Birch trees shed their leaves seasonally, produce protected seeds, and produce new wide and flat leaves each spring. This makes the Birch tree a hardwood tree. A common species of Birch in North America is the Silver Birch tree. Silver Birch has a Janka hardness rating of 1210lbf, which is a normal density for hardwood.

Learn The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood: Check Out This Article

Is Ash A Softwood?

Ash is not a softwood. The Ash tree is a hardwood tree. Ash trees shed their leaves seasonally, produce protected seeds, and produce new wide and flat leaves each spring. This makes the Ash tree a hardwood tree. A common species of Ash in North America is the White Ash tree. White Ash has a Janka hardness rating of 1320lbf, which is a normal density for hardwood.

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Is Poplar A Softwood?

Poplar is not a softwood. The Poplar tree is a hardwood tree. Poplar trees shed their leaves seasonally, produce protected seeds, and produce new wide and flat leaves each spring. This makes the Poplar tree a hardwood tree. A common species of Poplar in North America is the Quaking Aspen tree. Quaking Aspen has a Janka hardness rating of 350lbf, which is a fairly low density for hardwood.

Learn The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood: Check Out This Article

Is Beech A Softwood?

Beech is not a softwood. The Beech tree is a hardwood tree. Beech trees shed their leaves seasonally, produce protected seeds, and produce new wide and flat leaves each spring. This makes the Beech tree a hardwood tree. A common species of Beech in North America is the American Beech tree. American Beech has a Janka hardness rating of 1300lbf, which is a fairly common density for hardwood.

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Is Alder A Softwood?

Alder is not a softwood. The Alder tree is a hardwood tree. Alder trees shed their leaves seasonally, produce protected seeds, and produce new wide and flat leaves each spring. This makes the Alder tree a hardwood tree. A common species of Alder in North America is the Grey Alder tree. Grey Alder has a Janka hardness rating of 770lbf, which is a fairly common density for hardwood.

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Is Elm A Softwood?

Elm is not a softwood. The Elm tree is a hardwood tree. Elm trees shed their leaves seasonally, produce protected seeds, and produce new wide and flat leaves each spring. This makes the Elm tree a hardwood tree. A common species of Elm in North America is the American Elm tree. American Elm has a Janka hardness rating of 830lbf, which is a fairly common density for hardwood.

Learn The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood: Check Out This Article

Is Hickory A Softwood?

Hickory is not a softwood. The Hickory tree is a hardwood tree. Hickory trees shed their leaves seasonally, produce protected seeds, and produce new wide and flat leaves each spring. This makes the Hickory tree a hardwood tree. A common species of Hickory in North America is the Shellbark Hickory tree. Shellbark Hickory has a Janka hardness rating of 1820lbf, which is a fairly high density for hardwood.

Learn The Difference Between Hardwood And Softwood: Check Out This Article

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