softwood

Softwood comes from coniferous trees, such as pine, cedar, and spruce, which generally have needle-like leaves and cones. These trees tend to grow faster than hardwood trees, making their wood more readily available and usually less expensive. Softwood is commonly used in construction, furniture, and paper products due to its strength, ease of workability, and lightweight properties. Despite the name “soft,” some softwoods are quite durable, though they are typically less dense and more prone to dents and scratches than hardwoods. The term mainly refers to the type of tree they come from, not necessarily the softness of the wood itself.