Difference Between Hardwood and Softwood Trees

• Pine is a common softwood used in making furniture.Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
  
  Poplars are considered hardwood trees. Softwood and hardwood classifications are meant to be used as a taxonomical division to help separate species. The names have little to do with the strength of the wood. Hardwoods are broadleaved, deciduous plants that reproduce by flowers. Examples of hardwoods include oak, maple and birch. Softwood trees are evergreen species that reproduce by forming cones, known as gymnosperms. Examples of softwood trees include pine, spruce, firs and hemlock.
  
  

Weak-Wooded Trees

• Poplars are fast-growing, and can grow up to 6 feet a year in ideal conditions. This fast growth rate makes the tree weak wooded. The branches of weak wooded trees easily break off in storms, making a mess. This is where the term "messy tree" comes from. There are other examples of messy trees. Many trees closely related to poplars are also considered messy. Aspens, willows and cottonwoods are all from the same family, Salicaceae, and are weak wooded. Tree of heaven, silver maple and sycamore are examples of hardwood trees that are weak wooded.
  
  

Uses for Poplars in the Landscape

• Even though poplars are discouraged from being used in the landscape due to their weak wooded nature, there are still some instances that choosing a poplar would be appropriate. Homeowners wanting to plant a windbreak with slow growing evergreens like spruce, would benefit from a temporary, fast growing windbreak planted with poplars. The poplars could then be removed when the evergreens reach a mature height. Poplars must never be planted near pipelines, sidewalks or foundations, but make a good choice around water sources such as rivers and ponds.
  
  

Uses for Poplar in Furniture Making

• The strength of a poplar tree affects how it is used in furniture making. The characteristics of poplar wood include closed wood pores, even staining and durability. Poplar is considered soft, a 1 on a scale of 1 to 5 in hardness. Poplar is commonly used inside upholstered furniture and inside drawers due to its stability and relatively low cost. Poplar was a white color with some green streaks, and is often painted.