We all know what conifers are, don’t we?
They’re evergreens with needles rather than leaves. But what about larches? They’re not evergreen.
And cypresses have scale-like leaves, not needles. And let’s not even talk about monkey puzzle trees!
The answer to “what are conifers” isn’t so clear.
These plants are actually defined by their method of reproduction. Most species are indeed evergreens with needle-like foliage, but not all.
What they all have in common is reproductive cones instead of flowers.
I live in one of the most conifer-dense regions in the world, and I’ve developed a deep fascination for these plants.
Not only do they look lush and green even during the winter, but they need hardly any maintenance at all in the garden.
I’m just dying to discuss even more about conifers, so without further ado, here’s what we’ll be going over:
What Are Conifers?
There is one characteristic that defines these plants and it’s not the presence of needles or whether or not it’s evergreen.
All of them bear cones with seeds inside. In fact, that’s what the word conifer means. It’s Latin for conus, meaning cone, and ferre, meaning bearing. It’s a cone-bearing plant.
They all have two types of cones: females and males. The male cones are small and soft, and contain pollen.
The female cones are larger, woody, and contain the seeds. In many species, the pollen is carried a short distance by the wind.
Conifers are gymnosperms, meaning they are woody, seed-bearing plants. All of the about 650 existing species within seven genera are woody perennials that are either trees or shrubs.
The vast majority have a single main trunk.
They can be low-growing and under nine inches tall, like dwarf Japanese juniper (Juniperus procumbens), and over 300 feet tall in the case of coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens).
Most prefer full sun and somewhat dry soil, and all are wind-pollinated.
The leaves are typically needle-like or scale-like, with the needles in either linear or acicular shapes. Most are evergreen, but others are deciduous.
When we say “evergreen” it doesn’t mean they hold their needles indefinitely, they just don’t shed them all at once like deciduous types do.
Instead, they drop a few here and there that are constantly being replaced, giving the appearance of having persistent needles that last forever.
Many conifers produce sap, also called resin or pitch, which is a natural protection against pathogens and pests.
Many pests are put off by the fragrance of the resin, but they can also become trapped in it if they try to feed on the plant.
If one of these plants is wounded, it sends resin to the area to flood out pests and pathogens that might cause infestation or infection.
Some conifers want to attract birds to their cones to help spread the seeds. These will typically grow upright cones with short or non-existent stems.
That allows the birds to easily perch on the branch and feed.
Some Examples
The pine (Pinaceae), podocarp (Podocarpaceae), and cypress (Cupressaceae) families make up the largest conifer families, but there are also the Araucariaceae, Sciadopityaceae, Cephalotaxaceae, and Taxaceae families.
All the needle-laden trees like cedars, Douglas firs, true cypress , firs, junipers, kauri (Agathis), larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and yews are conifers.
There are deciduous types, including some larches, bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), and dawn redwoods (Metasequoia spp.).
These will lose their foliage in the fall and develop new leaves in the spring.
When it comes to conifers in the garden, pines, cypress, yews, and junipers are the most popular in North America.
Where Do They Grow Wild?
After the last ice age, many conifer species became extinct because flowering plants, which are better adapted to the warmer conditions of the modern climate, took over.
But there are still a few areas where flowering plants haven’t managed to outcompete with conifers.
The Pacific Northwest is one area where conifers thrive and that’s because evergreen leaves need a climate with a long, mild growing season.
They also do well in areas that have little moisture in the summer and ample moisture the rest of the year. They’ve also adapted to grow in poor soil where flowering trees fail to thrive.
You mostly find conifers in colder regions in northern latitudes. The two cold-hardiest trees in the world, the Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii) and the Siberian larch (L. sibirica) are conifers.
The rarest type in the world, the Monterey cypress, comes from a tiny corner of southwest Oregon and northwest California.
There are just a handful native to the Southern Hemisphere. These belong to the Araucaria, Podocarpus, and Agathis genera.
Form and Reproduction
Most conifers, at least in their natural form, have a conical shape with a strong central leader. This shape maximizes the light exposure available to the branches and needles.
As mentioned, what sets conifers apart from flowering plants is how they reproduce. These plants have petalless flowers on inflorescences that make up the immature cones.
All conifers have male cones that contain the pollen and female cones that hold the flowers and seeds.
The male cones are typically soft, with scales that hold the pollen inside until it’s ready to release.
Once it releases, it’s carried on the wind, water, or by animals and there can be an impressive amount.
If you’ve ever stepped outside to find everything covered in yellow powder, you’re probably looking at pollen from a nearby conifer, like a pine tree (Pinus spp.).
The pollen finds a female cone, which is usually soft when young, becoming woody when mature and pollinated.
The scales open to allow the pollen to find the seeds inside, and they’ll often exude a bit of resin that helps the pollen stick. Then, the scales close back up to protect the pollinated seed.
Some seeds are winged so they can be carried on the wind and others wait for birds or other hungry animals to eat them and carry them far and wide.
If you go for a walk in a coniferous forest in the spring, you’ll likely notice the seedlings popping up all over the place.
Most cones are pollinated and drop from the tree in the same year, but quite a few take two or even three years to release the seeds.
You might hear some cones referred to as “fruits,” such as those on junipers and yews, but they aren’t technically fruits. They’re cones, they just have fleshy scales.
Quick Guide to Identification
It can be hard to tell all the various conifers apart. Although it’s a lot more complicated than this, you can generally determine which type it is based on how the needles attach to the stalk.
If the needles wrap around the twig, it’s likely either a yew (Taxaceae family) or a cypress (Cupressaceae family).
Needles with a round base that leave behind round scars when they fall or are torn off are true firs (Abies spp.).
Soft needles in clusters of 15 or more that attach together at the base via a spur are larches (Larix spp.), while 15 or more stiff needles on a spur are true cedars (Cedrus spp.).
Needles in groups of two, three, or five with a papery envelope at the base, it’ll be a pine (Pinaceae family). Scales attached to the stem are junipers (Juniperus spp.).
If the needles attach via a small peg perpendicular to the stem, you’re probably looking at a spruce (Picea spp.). If there’s a tiny perpendicular stem, it’s likely a Douglas fir.
Finally, if the needle has a bit of stem that grows parallel to the main stem, it’s a hemlock (subfamily Abietoideae).
You can learn more in our guide to conifer identification here.
Conifers Are So Cool!
I really think these plants are so cool – they have some really fascinating adaptations. Wait, now as I’m reading that sentence, I’m realizing that I am officially a plant nerd.
I can’t be the only certified conifer nerd. What do you like about these plants? Which are your favorites? Let us know in the comments section below!
And if you love conifers as much as I do, you’ll likely want to learn more about them. Add these guides to your reading list next: