Wood from conifers is generally referred to as softwood; the term is also used as an adjective for the trees that produce softwood. Softwood trees include spruce, pine, fir, larch, cypress, redwood and yew. As the name suggests, the wood of softwoods is often softer than that of hardwoods, though there is considerable variation between species and much overlap - the wood of yews, for example, is much harder than most hardwoods, as is the wood of Longleaf pine, while the wood of Balsa (a hardwood species) is extremely soft. Softwood is easy to saw and is usually put to work in structural building components. It is also found in other products such as millwork (mouldings, doors, windows) and furniture.

See also: List of woods, US - Canada softwood lumber dispute