Is Boxwood A Hardwood Or Softwood

Boxwood shoots may be harvested in both the hardwood semi hardwood and softwood stage.

Is boxwood a hardwood or softwood.

Boxwood hard heavy fine grained wood usually white or light yellow that is obtained from the common box buxus sempervirens and other small trees of the genus buxus. Flowering dogwood cornus florida also is called boxwood and bunchberry. Softwood cuttings are taken when the plant has only been putting out new growth for three or four weeks. It is true that many hardwoods are more difficult to machine than softwoods however the distinction actually has nothing to do with the hardness or workability.

Boxwood s ability to hold crisp details in carvings and lathe work in combination with its color and silky fine texture truly make it a classic. Other species in different genera tend to have similar appearances and working characteristics i e fine texture hard and heavy and perhaps get marketed under the boxwood name much like many woods are called by the mahogany name. It s pale creamy yellowish hues make this quite popular with wood turners and especially carvers as boxwood is renowned for its capacity to hold crisp fine details and it has a smooth very fine texture. This north american species of hardwood tree produces distinctive fragrant white flowers in the spring followed by clusters of bright red fruit.

Its wood once widely was used for tool handles mallet heads wedges engraver s blocks and golf clubs. Allowed to grow in the open it rarely achieves heights of 25 feet with a maximum diameter of 6 inches. While the term boxwood has become quite convoluted over time this species buxus macowanii is considered a close cousin to the original boxwood buxus sempervirens. It is a common misconception that hardwoods are called hardwood because the wood is hard while softwood is so named because they are soft.

Boxwood buxus sempervirens by peter macsween at first glance european boxwood is an uninspiring tree.