Latin name: Acer rubrum, Acer saccharinum, Acer negundo, Acer macrophyllum

Origin: Canada and Eastern United States

Characteristics: Color can be a brighter white when cooked properly. Significantly softer than regular Eastern Hard Maple. Other than the figured logs it is considered a lesser valued Maple. Soft Maple tends to have a larger scale pillow like figure and is produced both in half round and full rotary. Nice figured logs have a very brilliant luster and a lot of depth. The heartwood is often silver- grey and olive as opposed to brown. Wormy logs develop a streaked appearance with grey and olive dramatically contrasting color.

Use: Kitchen cabinets and furniture.