Are Deciduous Trees Hardwood Or Softwood

Farmers clearing their land in the east back in the 18th and 19th centuries would have encountered a great range of deciduous trees scientifically categorized as angiosperms those that have broad leaves.

Are deciduous trees hardwood or softwood.

Hardwood information specifies that hardwood trees are deciduous. On the other hand softwood comes from coniferous trees which we call evergreens. This means that the leaves fall off in autumn and the tree remains leafless through springtime. In reality the technical distinction has to do with the reproductive biology of the species.

On the other hand softwood conifers do not pass the winter with bare branches. Informally trees categorized as hardwoods are usually deciduous meaning they lose their leaves in the autumn. The hardwood softwood terminology does make some sense. Softwoods are conifers which have needles rather than traditional leaves and retain them through the winter.

Evergreens do tend to be less dense than deciduous trees and therefore easier to cut while most hardwoods tend to be more dense and therefore sturdier. These trees will not shed their leaves during winter and they bear cones or uncovered seeds that fall to the ground and germinate. Hardwood trees take a longer time to grow than softwood trees. Sometimes true but not necessarily.

Hardwood originates from deciduous trees that shed leaves during winter. Deciduous trees are hardwood.