Other Softwoods

This group holds the softwoods that don't belong with the pines, cedars, cypress or firs. Right now that is Norfolk Island pine, the tall, symmetrical tree planted all over coastal Florida. Despite its name it is not a pine at all but an Araucaria, a relative of the monkey puzzle tree from the South Pacific. Its wood is pale, light and soft, with distinctive dark knots arranged in rings around the trunk, and turners prize it for translucent bowls that show those knot patterns. When storms or development bring these trees down in Southwest Florida, the logs can make interesting turning blanks and small craft pieces, though the wood is not durable outdoors and needs quick drying to avoid stain. Open the species page below for working notes and safety tips, and ask us in Fort Myers if you are looking for a softwood we have not covered yet.