Hardwood timber is commonly thought to be a denser or harder wood than softwood, but this is actually not always the case. Softwood and hardwood timbers are actually distinguished botanically, not by their end use or appearance. Hardwood derives from deciduous trees which lose their leaves annually, and softwood comes from a conifer, which usually remains evergreen. Hardwoods tend to be slower growing, and are therefore usually more dense, but not always. Balsa wood, for example, is classified as hardwood despite being extremely light and fragile. Hardwood is ideal for a wide range of products including flooring, decking, decorative mouldings, stair parts and cladding.