The term hardwood is used to describe wood from broad-leaved angiosperm trees, mostly deciduous, but not necessarily, as in the case of tropical trees. Hardwood contrasts with softwood in that softwoods come from conifer trees. Hardwood species are more varied than softwood. There are about a hundred times as many hardwood species as softwoods.

On average, hardwood is of higher density and hardness than softwood, but there is considerable variation in actual wood hardness in both groups. There is a large amount of overlap; some hardwoods are softer than most softwoods, and specifically, yew is an example of a hard softwood. Hardwoods have broad leaves and enclosed nuts or seeds such as acorns. They often grow in subtropical regions like Africa and south-east Asia, but are also found growing in temperate regions such as Europe and North America.

The dominant feature separating hardwoods from softwoods is the presence of pores or vessels. The vessels may show considerable variation in size, shape of perforation plates (ranging from simple, scalariform, reticulate to foraminate), and structure of cell wall.

Hardwoods are employed in a large range of applications including: construction, furniture, flooring and utensils. Solid hardwood joinery is expensive compared to softwood. In the past, tropical hardwoods were easily available but the supply of some species such as Burma teak and mahogany is now becoming restricted due to sustainability issues.

Cheaper “hardwood” doors for instance, now consist of a thin veneer bonded to a core of softwood, plywood or medium-density fiberboard. Examples of European hardwoods from evergreen trees include holly, boxwood and oak. Common deciduous European and North American hardwood species include the oaks, beech, ash, maple and cherry.

Important tropical hardwoods include teak, mahogany, iroko, ebony and rubberwood (which is an oxymoron of a name for a hardwood). There are many varieties of colors and species of hardwoods. From the color of light, natural Maple to the rich reds of Cherry, hardwoods will bring naturally diverse colors into any room. Hardwood is part of our past in America.

Hardwood craftsmanship can now be blended with the advances of modern technology to aesthetically enhance any room in which you choose to use hardwood. So, which hardwood lasts the longest? Generally, the harder the wood the more durable; however, grain and color must be considered, as light colors with less grain may actually show more wear than “softer” woods.

The hardest woods include Brazilian Cherry, Maple, White Oak and Hickory/Pecan while American Cherry and Walnut are softer hardwoods.