Is balsa a hardwood or a softwood?
Balsa is botanically a hardwood, even though it is one of the softest woods. What the terms really mean and where balsa comes from.
Updated · 1 min read
Short answer: balsa is botanically a hardwood, even though the wood itself is extremely soft and light. In wood terms, "hardwood" and "softwood" describe the kind of tree, not how hard the wood is.
What the terms mean
- Hardwoods come from broadleaf (flowering) trees. Balsa, oak and maple are examples.
- Softwoods come from conifers, such as pine and spruce.
Many softwoods are in fact harder than balsa.
Where balsa comes from
Balsa is the tree Ochroma pyramidale, native to tropical Central and South America. It grows very fast, and most commercial balsa comes from plantations, with Ecuador the leading source.
Why it is so light
Balsa's cells are large and thin-walled, so the wood is mostly air. It is typically about 0.10 to 0.20 g/cm³ when air-dried, depending on the tree. See choosing sticks and why balsa is used.