Types of Softwood

Agathis robusta (syn. A. palmerstonii), the Queensland kauri pine or smooth-barked kauri, is a coniferous tree in the family Araucariaceae. It has a disjunct distribution, occurring in Papua New Guinea and Queensland, Australia. Populations in Papua New Guinea may be treated as the distinct species Agathis spathulata.

Arborvitae and juniper both have wood that looks and smells like red cedar. From contributor Y: If you have a yard tree, and not something native to NJ, then it could be any of several trees in the genus Thuja which are all sometimes called arborvitae.

Hardwood vs. Softwood Density. The denser a wood is, the harder, stronger, and more durable it is. Most hardwoods have a higher density than most softwoods. The chart below shows the density of some commonly used woods.

Redwood lumber is very soft and lightweight, with a decent strength-to-weight ratio. It is also exceptionally stable, with very little shrinkage or seasonal movement. The mechanical values listed at the top of the page represent the averages between both old-growth lumber and second-growth lumber.

In short, softwoods are conifers (cone-bearing plants)—while hardwoods are classified as flowering plants (angiosperms). For practicality’s sake, it just so happens that most conifers happen to yield fairly soft wood, so the name “softwood” is generally applied, though not always strictly correct. (For instance, Balsa is a flowering ...

Cupressus nootkatensis is a species of trees in the cypress family native to the coastal regions of northwestern North America. This species goes by many common names including: Nootka cypress, yellow cypress, Alaska cypress, Nootka cedar, yellow cedar, Alaska cedar, and Alaska yellow cedar.

However, Douglas fir, which is a gymnosperm, or softwood, is actually harder than chestnut, an angiosperm that most people would call a hardwood. Balsa is a hardwood, but its wood is so soft and lightweight that it’s most commonly used for making model airplanes.

Comments: Perhaps among the hardest of all softwood species, Yew is certainly a unique wood species. Its density and working characteristics are more inline with a heavy hardwood than a softwood, yet its tight, fine grain and smooth texture give it a lustrous finish.

Uses of Hardwood vs Softwood. In many cases, hardwoods and softwoods are both used for many of the same purposes, with more emphasis placed on the type of hardwood or softwood and how dense it is. Generally, though, softwoods are cheaper and easier to work with than hardwoods.

In fact, this softwood actually grows harder with age! Botanist Stephen L. Endlicher in 1847 christened hemlock with the genus name tsuga. The Japanese word means "yew-leaved," referring to its short, flat, and contrary to legend, non-poisonous needles.

Kauri are among the most massive trees in the world in sheer volume, rivaling the giant redwoods in the Pacific northwest of the United States. Ancient Kauri is simply a name for Kauri trees (Agathis australis) that have been harvested from salt marshes and swamps in New Zealand’s North Island.

Monkey puzzle is a softwood (no pores) that is moderately hard and monkey pod is a hardwood (has pores) that is extremely soft. Either way I'd like to get a piece as described in post #8. PM me the postage cost and I'll PayPay you the amount.

Phyllocladus aspleniifolius, commonly known as the celerytop pine, is an endemic gymnosperm of Tasmania, Australia. It is widespread and common in Tasmania, with the most abundance in the western highlands.

Softwood is wood from gymnosperm trees such as conifers. The term is opposed to hardwood, which is the wood from angiosperm trees. Softwood trees have needles and exposed seeds, but do not have leaves.

Spruce are evergreen trees in the genus Picea. They range in height from 65 to 200 feet tall and are common in boreal forests. Their wood is classified as softwood based on its characteristics.According to the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service, woods are classified as hardwood...

Western Red Cedar will definitely give you better rot resistance. Probably not as strong as the pine, but definitely better at standing up to the elements.