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Furniture Essentials
Types of Wood
Characteristics of Softwoods
Softwoods come from trees that possess seed-bearing cones – known as coniferous
trees. Coniferous trees are evergreens, meaning they keep their leaves and grow all year
round. Typically, softwood trees take between 25 and 50 yrs. to reach maturity and
usually have needle-like leaves. Coniferous trees are adapted to a wider range of climates
than hardwoods, primarily in areas north of the arctic circle right down to the Equator in
Sumatra. Softwood is the source of about 80% of the world’s production of timber, with
traditional centers of production being the Baltic region (Russia + Scandinavia), North
America and China.
Examples of Softwoods Include
Pine:
an evergreen coniferous tree that has clusters of long needle-
shaped leaves. Many kinds are grown for their soft timber, which is
widely used for furniture and pulp, or for tar and turpentine.
Spruce:
a tree of the pine family, the spruce tree has short, angular,
needle-shaped leaves attached singly around twigs and bearing hanging
cones with persistent scales.
Cedar:
A tall coniferous tree of the pine family noted for their fragrant
durable wood. Cedar wood is fine, uniform, straight grain, and is favored
because of its exceptional cutting qualities, durability, rich color and
aroma.