By Joe Zeleznik, Forester

NDSU Extension

When I moved to North Dakota, I talked to people about both hardwood trees and softwood trees. They looked very confused. What’s a hardwood?

Terminology is important. For good communication, a word should mean the same thing to each person. If it doesn’t, then we’re not actually communicating.

By the way, “hardwood” is a broad term for a deciduous tree. As you probably guessed, a “softwood” is an evergreen. But each term is somewhat inaccurate. As far as lumber goes, there are some soft hardwoods and some hard softwoods. 

Confused?

In natural resources in general, there are very few absolutes. There are always exceptions to the rule. 

Even the broad groupings of evergreens and deciduous trees aren’t 100% true. There are several conifers that drop all of their leaves (needles) each year, and there are some “deciduous” trees that hold onto their leaves through the winter.

Exceptions to the rule. Clear communication. Challenge accepted!

That’s why scientific names and taxonomy are so important. They clarify species identification by getting rid of potentially confusing terminology and common names.

Are you familiar with tamarack trees from northern Minnesota swamps? These conifers are also called eastern larch. They’re conifers, but they lose their needles every autumn. While they’re softwoods, the wood is actually pretty dense. 

Scientifically, they’re Larix laricina. With that scientific name, we’re very precise and can communicate clearly. 

I’d be hesitant to plant a tamarack in North Dakota. They’re certainly cold-hardy enough for our state, but they tend to need a lot of moisture. Siberian larch trees – Larix sibirica – are much more drought-tolerant and will do better here.

Another exception is the ginkgo. The leaves are broad and the tree drops them in the fall. And it’s 100% a conifer. If we were to cut a ginkgo tree down and turn the trunk into lumber, the wood would look a lot like pine. It’s pretty amazing.

The scientific name of ginkgo is Ginkgo biloba. I’ve seen a few in North Dakota, but only in highly protected areas. They’re a fascinating tree species.

Bald cypress and dawn redwood are two more deciduous conifers (Taxodium distichum and Metasequoia glyptostroboides, in case you were wondering). They drop their needles every year and grow new ones in the spring. I wouldn’t try them here. You’ll have to travel to northern Missouri to find the nearest native stand of bald cypress. Dawn redwood used to grow in southwest North Dakota, but that was about 65 million years ago.

What about evergreen deciduous trees? That is, broadleaf/hardwoods that retain their leaves year-round. If you’re interested in seeing some, look for the live oak trees (Quercus virginiana) in the southeastern U.S. along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Yes, they’re oak trees. They produce acorns that feed a lot of wildlife.

I’ve only seen one in our region – it’s growing in a two-gallon pot in my living room.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – March 17, 2026

Source: Joe Zeleznik, 701-231-8143, joseph.zeleznik@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu