Acer Saccharinum Binder

Soft maple is a broad term encompassing several species of maple that are softer and less expensive than hard maple, which typically refers to the species Acer saccharum, also known as rock or sugar maple. While hard maple includes species like black and Florida maple, soft maple varies by region; for instance, bigleaf maple is common in Oregon, whereas red or silver maple might be found in the eastern U.S. Despite the differences in species, soft maples generally have lower hardness and strength compared to hard maple, leading to their lower cost.