A bay leaf tree does not fall under the category of hardwood trees but is instead classified as an evergreen broadleaf tree belonging to the lauraceae family. Hardwood trees generally refer to deciduous trees with dense and durable wood such as oak or mahogany. In contrast, bay leaves come from the Laurus nobilis species, which features softer wood that is more akin to other evergreen trees like cedar or pine. Despite not being classified as a hardwood, bay leaf trees can still be utilized for various purposes due to their desirable properties such as their aromatic leaves or finely grained timber suitable for specialized woodworking projects