Important Notice: Our web hosting provider recently started charging us for additional visits, which was unexpected. In response, we're seeking donations. Depending on the situation, we may explore different monetization options for our Community and Expert Contributors. It's crucial to provide more returns for their expertise and offer more Expert Validated Answers or AI Validated Answers. Learn more about our hosting issue here.
Lumbermen use the term softwood to refer to conifers. Since birch is not a conifer, it is not softwood. Birches at the northern limit of their range are hard and quite useful for making violins and piano soundboards. At the south end of their range, Robert Frost liked to climb them until they would bend over and take him down to the ground so they probably were soft!
