Conifers are a large chemical group of woody , cone - bearing plant with needle - like or scale leaf - alike leaves . Often referred to as evergreens , most ( though not all ) conifers keep their foliation twelvemonth - round . The bulk of coniferous tree are Tree , though some are shrub . They are some of the oldest plants in the world , acquire before flowering plants . There are over 600 conifer species in the human beings , with conifer woodland being overriding in many boreal and temperate part in the Northern Hemisphere .

Though conifers are most often consort with cold , snow-covered clime , they can also be found grow in warmer areas . Loblolly true pine and bald-pated cypress tree are found in bottom mixed conifer forests and swamps in the southeastern U.S. , while California redwood is endemic to balmy coastal areas in the western U.S. The alien rapscallion mystifier Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is native to the Andes Mountains in South America , while Norfolk Island pine is autochthonal to the South Pacific .

conifer make a valuable addition to the landscape painting , providing yr - round color , texture and an regalia of decorative attribute . Plants come up in unlike size of it and shapes , with a form of landscape painting use : as undercoat cover version , hedge , screening , or tolerate - alone focal points . Conifers are leisurely to grow and adaptable to a cooking stove of growing term . Here are some of the most common types of conifers .

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Also see:20 Best Dwarf Conifers to Grow

photograph by : LapailrKrapai / Shutterstock .

Last Frontier CEDAR ( Xanthocyparis nootkatensis , syn . Chamaecyparis , syn . Callitropsis )

Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : pyramidic weeping habitHeight / Spread:20 to 120 pes grandiloquent , 8 to 30 feeet widely

aboriginal to the Pacific coast from Alaska to northerly California , Xanthocyparis , know as Alaska cedar tree or nootka cypress tree , is a marvelous Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with a graceful weeping habit . hoary - green or dark - dark-green needles occur on flattened sprays with pointed tips . Small , gullible distaff retinal cone develop at the tips of the ramification .

North Pole ® arborvitae . pic by : Proven Winners .

ARBORVITAE ( Thujaspp . )

Zones:2 - 8Exposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Mounding , rounded , conical , pyramidal or weeping habitHeight / Spread:1 to 70 feet tall , 1 to 25 foot all-inclusive

This various coniferous tree , aboriginal to eastern Asia and North America , comes in a wide array of size of it and frame , from gnome mounding types to upright towering specimens . Flattened , aromatic acerate leaf make out in shades of green or gold , with bantam 1/2 - column inch - foresightful cones that come out out green and mature to John Brown . Common varieties include easterly red cedarwood ( Thuja occidentalis ) , Western red cedar ( T. plicata ) , and ‘ Emerald Green ’ ( syn . ’Smaragd ’ ) . find out arborvitae .

image : Soft service ® sham cypressfrom Proven Winners .

Photo by : Marinodenisenko / Shutterstock .

BALD CYPRESS ( Taxodium distichum )

Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : vertical pyramidal habitHeight / Spread:50 to 70 feet marvellous , 20 to 30 feet broad

Related to dawn sequoia , this deciduous conifer is also known as swampland cypress . aboriginal to the southeasterly U.S. , bald cypress is often find uprise along swamplands , bayous , and river . The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree trunks are flared at the base , break distinct knobby roots when growing in standing water . fragile sprays of feathery unripe foliage sprain vivid cinnamon - brown in fall .

pic by : Peter Turner Photography / Shutterstock .

CEDAR ( Cedrusspp . )

Zones:6 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright , spreading , weeping or gnome habitHeight / Spread:3 to 60 feet grandiloquent and wide-eyed

Though there are many types of cedar tree , honest cedar go to the genusCedrus . Originating in the Mediterranean and Himalayan realm , the redolent needles can be stiff or flaccid , occur in tone of gullible , gold , or blue . The most commonly grow varieties include deodar cedar ( Cedrus deodara ) and Atlas true cedar ( C. atlantica ) .

Photo by : Felix Lipov / Shutterstock .

COAST REDWOOD ( Sequoia sempervirens )

Zones:7 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : upright piano habitHeight / Spread:60 to 100 feet tall , 15 to 25 feet wide , reaching up to 350 foot tall in the wild

aboriginal to the coastline of California and Oregon , Sequoia sempervirens , also know as coast redwood , is the tall growing tree diagram in the world . Named for the reddish - brown bark , these trees develop a marvelous straight trunk with slightly swag branch . Soft green needles are set in flat spray along the stem . These coniferous trees can take up to 400 years to grow , and can populate 2,000 years or longer .

Dawn redwood tree in fall . picture by : Peter Turner Photography / Shutterstock .

DAWN REDWOOD ( Metasequoia glyptostroboides )

Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright conical habitHeight / Spread:70 to 100 feet tall , 15 to 25 feet wide-cut

Metasequoiais one of the few conifer trees that is deciduous , losing it leaves in fall . This large Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has an elegant conical habit with upright - face up branch . Flat spray of feathery fine - textured needles issue bright unripened in spring , maturate to dark gullible in summer before turning smart as a whip nuance of coppery orange tree - chocolate-brown in free fall .

DOUGLAS FIR ( Pseudotsuga menziesii )

Zones:4 - 6Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : vertical pyramidal habitHeight / Spread:40 to 80 feet improbable , 10 to 20 foundation wide

This stately evergreen , which is not a true fir , is a North American coniferous tree native to the coastal region from British Columbia to central California . Pseudotsugahas reddish - brown bark , spirally stage dispirited - green needle , and 4 - inch chocolate-brown conoid that are produced in copiousness . fantastic specimens can reach up to 300 feet tall .

diffuse Serve ® false cypress . photograph by : Proven Winners .

FALSE CYPRESS ( Chamaecyparisspp . )

Zones:3 - 9 , bet on the varietyExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : vertical , mounding , pyramidal or columniform habitHeight / Spread:5 to 130 feet tall , 2 to 25 feet blanket , depend on the diverseness

Chamaecyparisis a cone-bearing tree that do in a full raiment of grade , sizes , and foliage colors including gullible , blue - green , chartreuse , and gold . The finely dissect foliage adds year - round colour and soft texture to beds and borders . The most vulgar eccentric admit hinoki cypress ( Chamaecyparis obtusa ) , Japanese fake cypress ( C. pisifera ) , and Port Orford cedar ( C. lawsoniana ) . Read to grow false cypress tree trees .

Balsam fir pinecones . Photo by : Mircea Costina / Shutterstock .

FIR ( Abiesspp . )

Zones:3 - 8Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright , mounding , pyramidal or cone-shaped habitHeight / Spread:10 to 200 feet tall , 10 to 25 foot wide

Abiesis a diverse genus be 50 mintage that are aboriginal to many regions in the Northern Hemisphere . Noble fir ( Abies procera ) and balsam fir ( A. balsamea ) are popular as Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree for their dense symmetrical drug abuse and redolent needles . Abiesare distinguished from other evergreen conifers by the short slopped needles that are sequester at the base of the branches , and the cosmetic good strobile that occur in color of brown , red , blue , or purple .

Photo by : Kevin Case / Shutterstock .

GIANT SEQUOIA ( Sequoiadendron giganteum )

Zones:6 - 8Exposure : Full Lord’s Day to fond shadeHabit : unsloped pyramidal or conical habitHeight / Spread:60 to 275 foot marvellous , 25 to 60 understructure wide

Sequoiadendronis the largest tree in the existence , occurring on the west slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California . They are characterized by vast trunks , a elephantine canopy , reddish - brownish barque , and grim - unripened needles arranged spirally around the stems . Because of their limited stove , these majestic conifers are heel as endangered . jumbo sequoia are among the oldest organism in the worldly concern , with some specimens estimated at 3,000 years old or more .

westerly California fern tree . Photo by : David_Maddock/ Shutterstock .

HEMLOCK ( Tsugaspp . )

Zones:3 - 9 , depending on the speciesExposure : Full sunshine to partial shadeHabit : good pyramidal habitHeight / Spread:40 to 150 feet tall , 20 to 35 feet extensive , with some dwarf varieties

Tsuga , which is aboriginal to North America and eastern Asia , is a medium- to large - sized evergreen plant conifer with an elegant pyramidical shape , slightly drooping habit , and dangle cones . Finely textured unripened needles are unretentive and categoric , do symmetrically , and exude a biting earthy scent . The two spectacular native coinage are eastern or Canadian hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis ) and western hemlock tree ( Tsuga heterophylla ) .

Photo by : David_Maddock / Shutterstock .

ITALIAN CYPRESS ( Cupressus sempervirens )

Zones:7 - 10Exposure : Full sunHabit : minute columnar habitHeight / Spread:40 to 70 feet magniloquent , 3 to 20 feet wide

value for its narrow tapered habit , Italian cypress create a striking exclamation point in the landscape , and is a common landscape painting Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in the Mediterranean region . This statuesque tree diagram is used as magniloquent hedging or as sort along holding edge . The dark blue - immature leafage makes an attractive backcloth to decorative bed and molding . This drought - broad conifer prefers juiceless climates and well - drain soil .

Photo by : Gonzalo de Miceu / Shutterstock .

JAPANESE CEDAR ( Cryptomeria japonica )

Zones:5 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : upright piano open habitHeight / Spread:50 to 60 feet tall , 20 to 30 foot wide , with some midget varieties

Native to Japan and China , this elegant tree has a pyramidal riding habit with vertical fork , and fragrant soft blue - green or golden needle that are spirally put . Some varieties stay smaller , include ‘ Globosa Nana ’ , which reaches just 3 to 4 foot tall and wide .

Photo by : Nancy J. Ondra / Shutterstock .

Nipponese UMBRELLA PINE ( Sciadopitys verticillata )

Zones:5 - 8Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright pyramidal or open habitHeight / Spread:25 to 30 foot magniloquent , 15 to 20 feet across-the-board

Japanese umbrella pine is named for the umbrella - like whorls of long slender needle that grow at the end of the branches . The needle bunch glow outwards , resemble the spoke of an candid umbrella . This slow - mature evergreen coniferous tree starts out with a pyramidal shape , gradually becoming more open as it matures . This ancient coniferous tree is one of the oldest trees on earth and is debate a living dodo . It is the only member of the umbrella pine family , Sciadopityaceae .

Gin Fizz ® juniper . Photo by : Proven Winners .

JUNIPER ( Juniperusspp . )

Zones:2 - 10 , bet on the varietyExposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Upright , spreading or weeping habitHeight / Spread:6 inches to 130 feet tall , 1 to 25 feet all-inclusive

Juniperusis a orotund genus of 50 to 60 species of evergreen coniferous tree that range from dwarf ground covers to towering trees over 100 feet tall . The soft , flattened , scale - same leaves occur in shades of green , racy , silver , and gold , with some take winter chromaticity of bronze or other colors . The attractive berry - like female yield start out immature and mature to profane , and are used for medicinal or ornamental purposes , as a spice , or to flavor gin rummy . check juniper shrubs and trees .

figure : Gin Fizz ® juniperfrom Proven Winners .

photograph by : LifeisticAC / Shutterstock .

LARCH ( Larixspp . )

Zones:2 - 7 , depend on the speciesExposure : Full sunHabit : Upright pyramidal or weeping habitHeight / Spread:40 to 100 foot improbable , 20 to 30 feet wide

Native to cooler neighborhood of the northern hemisphere , this stalwart conifer can be found get in eminent - altitude forest and mountains . Larixis one of the few conifers that is deciduous , lose its folio during the winter months . The cushy , feathery gullible needles , which occur in tight bundles along the branches , call on bright yellow - atomic number 79 in fall . Tamarack ( Larix laricina ) is a common timberland Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree aboriginal to North America .

Photo by : Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock .

LEYLAND CYPRESS ( xCupressocyparis leylandii )

Zones:6 - 10Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright pyramidal habitHeight / Spread:60 to 70 foundation tall , 15 to 20 feet all-inclusive

Cupressocyparis leylandiiis a cross of Monterey cypress and Nootka simulated cypress , with an elegant pyramidal habit . Flattened sprays of thickly packed blue - greenish phonograph needle occur on upright limb . This fast - growing evergreen plant conifer is most often used as privacy screening and hedging , but can also be grown as a tree .

exposure by : Alena Charykova / Shutterstock .

MONKEY PUZZLE TREE ( Araucaria araucana )

Zones:7 - 10Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright spreading habitHeight / Spread:50 to 80 fundament tall , 20 to 30 feet wide

Native to Chile and Argentina , Araucaria araucanais an evergreen plant conifer valued for its architectural habit , textured brown bark and heavyset scale - like leaves that give an other - worldly appearance in the landscape . This vertical tree has an open pyramidal wont with upwards branching when young , developing an umbrella - shaped canopy as it mature . Monkey puzzle tree flourish in mild maritime climates .

Eastern white pine tree . Photo by : meunierd / Shutterstock .

PINE ( Pinusspp . )

Zones:3 - 10 , reckon on the speciesExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright , circulate , bushy , mound or cry habitHeight / Spread:10 to 130 metrical unit tall , 3 to 10 feet blanket , with some dwarf assortment

Pine is a softwood conifer in the genusPinus , which incorporate 120 species that come in a wide mountain chain of shapes and sizes . These evergreen plant are common in many regions of the Northern Hemisphere . The most typical feature of pine are the green needle bunch that occur in groups of 2 to 5 . Needles may be short and stubby , or as long as 18 inches . Some of the most recognize pine let in bristlecone true pine ( Pinus longaeva ) , lodgepole pine ( P. contorta ) eastern white pine ( P. strobus ) , mugo pine ( P. mugo ) , and ponderosa pine ( P. ponderosa ) .

Photo by : George Lovegood / Shutterstock .

PODOCARPUS ( Podocarpusspp . )

Zones:3 - 10 , calculate on the speciesExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : vertical , columnar or undecided habitHeight / Spread:6 to 50 feet grandiloquent , 6 to 25 feet wide

This various evergreen tree or shrub come in different size and shape , with all right green or gold phonograph needle and coloured berries evocative of yew , hence the mutual figure of yew true pine or Japanese yew . The soft texture make an attractive backdrop to other plants . apply as a ground cover version , shelterbelt , concealment tree , or elude .

Photo by JossK / Shutterstock .

SPRUCE ( Piceaspp . )

Zones:2 - 9 , depending on the speciesExposure : Full sunHabit : Upright , scatter , bushy , mounding , pyramidal or weeping habitHeight / Spread:1 to 160 foot magniloquent , 2 to 20 foot wide , with some midget varieties

Piceais an evergreen plant tree or shrub distinguished from other coniferous tree by the pungent four - sided needle that attach singly to small wooden leg - comparable social organisation along the leg . There are 35 species that fall out in a wide-cut range of a function of size of it and shapes , with foliage in shades of light-green , dismal , or gold . Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) is popularly grown as a Christmas tree . Other common metal money include Colorado blue spruce ( Picea pungens ) , white spruce ( P. glauca ) , and Sitka spruce ( P. sitchensis ) .

Photo by Rhoenbergfoto / Shutterstock .

YEW ( Taxusspp . )

Zones:2 - 10 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sunlight to partial shadeHabit : Upright , columnar , arc or mounding habitHeight / Spread:4 to 60 feet tall , 4 to 20 human foot all-inclusive , depending on the variety

Taxusis a tree diagram or shrub with reddish barque , flat dark green needle , and bright crimson berry - like fruits . It is commonly used as formal hedge and for topiary , with dense , finely textured foliage that is highly tractable to shearing , and is resistant of a panoptic stove of acquire conditions . This evergreen coniferous tree arrive in many different sizes and shapes , have it a various landscape plant ; however , all parts of the plant , specially the attractive reddened fruits , are extremely toxic .

What is a conifer?

coniferous tree are woody trees or shrubs that produce seed - bear cones and needle - shaped foliage that is normally evergreen .

Are conifer trees evergreen?

Most conifers are evergreen , keep their foliation year - circular . There are a few exceptions , include larch and dawn sequoia , which lose their leaves in fall .

tie in : Evergreen ShrubsArborvitae TreesChamaecyparis Trees & Shrubs ( False Cypress)Juniper Trees & ShrubsWinter Gardens