What is the main difference between hardwood and softwood?

The key distinction between hardwood and softwood lies in their botanical origins, which is captured by the response that hardwoods come from deciduous trees while softwoods come from coniferous trees. Deciduous trees lose their leaves seasonally and often produce denser, more complex wood. Examples of hardwoods include oak, maple, and cherry. These trees typically take longer to grow and mature, which contributes to their general classification as hardwoods.

In contrast, softwoods derive from coniferous trees, such as pines, spruces, and firs, which usually retain their needle-like leaves year-round. Softwoods typically grow faster than hardwoods, resulting in generally lighter and less dense wood. While other factors like cost and density can vary and contribute to the characteristics of wood types, the most fundamental and defining difference is indeed based on the type of tree from which they originate.