It's not a strong wood, but it is a hard wood.
Interesting thought about "hardwoods" and "softwoods" is their designation isn't derived from properties of the wood itself.
soft·wood | ˈsôf(t)ˌwo͝od |
noun
1 the wood from a conifer (such as pine, fir, or spruce) as distinguished from that of broadleaved trees.
hard·wood | ˈhärdˌwo͝od |
noun
1 the wood from a broadleaved tree (such as oak, ash, or beech) as distinguished from that of conifers
Some hardwoods are softer than some softwoods. Likewise, some softwoods are harder than some hardwoods.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)