Hardwood originates from deciduous trees that shed leaves during winter.
Are deciduous trees hardwood or softwood.
This means that the leaves fall off in autumn and the tree remains leafless through springtime.
These trees will not shed their leaves during winter and they bear cones or uncovered seeds that fall to the ground and germinate.
On the other hand softwood comes from coniferous trees which we call evergreens.
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.
Most people think hardwood is hard and softwood is soft.
Hardwood trees take a longer time to grow than softwood trees.
In reality the technical distinction has to do with the reproductive biology of the species.
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.
Informally trees categorized as hardwoods are usually deciduous meaning they lose their leaves in the autumn.
Sometimes true but not necessarily.
Softwoods are conifers which have needles rather than traditional leaves and retain them through the winter.
On the other hand softwood conifers do not pass the winter with bare branches.
The hardwood softwood terminology does make some sense.
Deciduous trees are hardwood.