Conifer

conifer [ KOH-nuh-fer, KON-uh– ] noun: a thin-leaved (having needles or scales) tree or shrub that produces cones

Golden larch in July.
Photo © Christa Watters

Deciduous Pseudolarix amabilis (golden larch) in April. — Deciduous conifer *Pseudolarix amabilis* (golden larch) in April. Photo © Leslie Filmore

Golden larch in November. Photo © Christa Watters

Most conifers are evergreen, but not all. Some, such as larches, pond cypresses and bald or swamp cypresses, all common in the southeastern United States, are deciduous, changing color and losing their needles in the winter. This does not mean that evergreen conifers do not lose their leaves. It is common for them to shed older leaves (2–10 years old depending on the species) in fall. This natural shedding process should occur from the inside of the plant, not at the branch tips.

Autumn Browning and Shedding of Evergreen Conifers

Pollen-laden male strobili of Pinus densiflora 'Umbraculifera' — Left to right: *Pinus densiflora* “Umbraculifera’ in May and January; *Chamaecyparis obtusa* ‘Nana Lutea’ shrub and foliage in January; native *Thuja occidentali*s in October and February.

Left to right: *Pinus densiflora* “Umbraculifera’ in May and January; *Chamaecyparis obtusa* ‘Nana Lutea’ shrub and foliage in January; native *Thuja occidentali*s in October and February.

Note: Click on images to see enlarged photos, captions, and photo attributions.
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Conifers belong to the order Coniferales, literally meaning cone-bearing. Cones or strobili are clusters of sporophylls or scales arranged on an axis; conifers generally bear both male and female cones on the same plant. Some needle-leafed plants, however, like yews, produce arillate fruits, leading some experts to say they are not true conifers. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees, for example, says that yews are not conifers but still includes them in the conifer section of their guide because they have flat, evergreen needles.

A flyer that guides visitors to the Conifer Trail of the University of Virginia’s historic Blandy Experimental Farm of the State Arboretum of Virginia says conifers vary considerably among the world’s 600-plus species, but their common traits include having separate male (pollen) and female (seed) cones. “The seeds develop on cone scales or related structures, not within protective fruits as in flowering plants…. Most have needle- or awl-shaped leaves, though this varies.”

The Conifer Garden, Norfolk Botanical Garden. Photo © Elaine Mills

HOW TO IDENTIFY CERTAIN CONIFER SPECIES

Conifer species can be identified mostly by their cones and leaves.
Know your conifers so that you can properly care for them,
prune them at the right time, and recognize potential problems.
Conifers are evergreen unless otherwise indicated. If a conifer is indigenous to Virginia, it is described as native.
Click on a drawing to view a photograph of that species. Attributions for photos and drawings below.

CUPRESSACEAE (CYPRESS FAMILY)

Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar). Image courtesy of Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini, Flora Japonica, Sectio Prima (Tafelband). — *Cryptomeria japonica* (Japanese cedar): spirally arranged in 5 ranks, 1/2–3/4″ long, incurved, awl-shaped, 4-angled, needlelike, green leaves may bronze in winter; male strobili clustered near branch tips; rosette-like, brown seed cones, borne singly or grouped.

Native *Taxodium distichum* (baldcypress): deciduous, alternate, appearing 2-ranked, 1/4–3/4″ long, soft, feathery, flat, needlelike, yellow-green leaves turn cinnamon-brown in fall; long, pendant, paniculate male strobili; 1″ diameter, woody, globose, greenish seed cones mature to brown.

Chamaecyparis obtusa courtesy of Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini, Flora Japonica, Sectio Prima (Tafelband). — *Chamaecyparis obtusa* (hinoki cypress): fan-shaped sprays of opposite, 4-ranked, short, compressed, scalelike leaves, dark shiny green above, white x/y markings below; male strobili at tips; 1/2″ diameter, globose, green seed cones mature to orange-brown.

Native *Juniperus virginiana* (eastern redcedar): appressed to twig in 4 ranks, tiny, scalelike, green leaves may bronze in winter or awl-shaped, needlelike leaves on young trees; dioecious; yellow-brown male strobili at tips of 2nd year branches and blue-green female strobili; bluish, berry-like seed cones.

Native *Thuja occidentalis* (northern whitecedar): flattened, fan-shaped sprays in bead-like ranks, opposite, 1/4″ long, pointed, scalelike, dull yellow-green leaves may bronze in winter; male and female strobili on different twigs of same branch; leathery, egg-shaped seed cones mature to brown.

TAXACEAE

PINACEAE (PINE FAMILY)

YEW

CEDAR

HEMLOCK

FIR

Native *Taxus canadensis* (Canadian yew): spiraling around twig twisted at base, 3/8–1″ long, single, flat, sharp-pointed, needlelike, dark green leaves with prominent midrib above and below (appearing striped); male and female strobili grow singly in leaf axils on separate branches; red, berry-like aril holding one seed.

*Cedrus* (cedar): stiff, tapering, needlelike leaves, single on new growth or densely clustered in spur shoots; solitary, erect male and female strobili on separate branches; erect, resinous, barrel-shaped seed cones with mature scales abscising from persistent rachis. [Photo: *Cedrus libani* ‘Nana’ with immature male strobili.]

Native *Tsuga canadensis* (eastern hemlock): spiraling around twig attached to peg-like base and appearing 2-ranked, 1/2″ long, single, soft, flat, tapered, needlelike leaves, green above, whitish with green midrib below; yellow male strobili along leaf axils and green female strobili on separate branches at twig tips; pendant, egg-shaped, brown seed cones.

Native *Abies balsamea* (balsam fir): 1-ranked to spiraling, 3/4″ long, sessile, single, soft, flat, straight needles, dark green above, two white stripes each side of midrib below, pinelike odor; male strobili clustered in leaf axils mid-crown and purplish female strobili in upper crown; erect seed cones with resinous scales abscising from persistent rachis to release seeds.

PINACEAE (PINE FAMILY)

LARCH

SPRUCE

PINE

*Larix laricina* (tamarack): deciduous, 1/2–1″ long, soft, flat, blunt, needlelike, light green leaves in tufts of 10–45 on short spur shoots or borne singly on 1st year long shoots turn yellow in fall; oblong male and erect, egg-shaped female strobili at tips of lateral shoots on separate branches; 3/4″ long, egg-shaped, red-purple seed cones mature to brown.

Native *Picea rubens* (red spruce): spiraling around twig attached to persistent peglike base, 1/2–5/8″ long, single, sharp-pointed, four-sided, yellow-green needles; pendant, red male and erect, purple-tipped green female strobili in axils of previous year’s shoots on separate branches; 1.5″ long, pendant, reddish-brown seed cones with rounded scales.

Pinus echinata (shortleaf pine). Image courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 58. — Native *Pinus echinata* (shortleaf pine): spiraling up twig, dimorphic, 3–5″ long, slender, pliant, dark yellow-green needles in bundles of two or three in persistent fascicle sheath; cylindrical red to yellow male strobili clustered at twig tips and light green to red female strobili; 2″ long, semi-persistent, egg-shaped, red-brown to gray seed cones with short, stout prickles mature in 2nd year.

Pinus palustris (longleaf pine). Image courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 57. — Native *Pinus palustris* (longleaf pine): spiraling up twig, dimorphic, 8–18″ long, feathery, lustrous yellow-green to dark green needles in bundles (fascicles) of three tufted at twig tips; long, yellow-red male strobili in clusters and oval, purple female strobili; sessile, 6–10″ long, conical, red-brown seed cones with curved prickles mature in 2nd year, quickly release seeds, and fall.

PINACEAE (PINE FAMILY)

PINE

Native *Pinus strobus* (eastern white pine): spiraling up twig, dimorphic, 2–5″ long, thin, soft, pliant, blue-green needles with fine white lines on two inner surfaces in bundles (fascicles) of five; male strobili clustered at candle base and female strobili clusters in upper crown; stalked, 4–8″ long, pendant seed cones with resinous scale tips mature in 2nd year, shed seeds, and fall.

Native *Pinus taeda* (loblolly pine): spiraling up twig, dimorphic, 5–9″ long, thin, pliant, dark yellow-green needles in bundles (fascicles) of three (rarely two); red to yellow male strobili clustered at tips of previous year’s growth and yellow to purple female strobili on new growth; stalkless, 3–6″ long, egg-shaped to cylindrical seed cones with stout prickles mature in 2nd year, shed seeds, and fall.

Pinus virginiana (Virginia or scrub pine). Image courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 59. — Native *Pinus virginiana* (Virginia or scrub pine): spiraling up twig, dimorphic, 1.5–3″ long, twisted, yellow-green needles in bundles (fascicles) of two; cylindrical, yellow male strobili near twig tips and yellow to red female strobili with curved prickle; sessile, 1.5–2.5″ long, narrowly egg-shaped, purple-red-brown seed cones with slender prickles persist up to 5 years.

Attributions for Conifer Species Photos and Drawings

Abies balsamea. Photo © Plant Image Library CC BY-SA 2.0. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 63.

Chamaecyparis obtusa. Photo © Mary Free. Drawing courtesy of Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini, Flora Japonica, Sectio Prima (Tafelband).

Cedrus (cedar). Photo © Chista Watters. Drawing courtesy of Cedar (Cedrus sp.): branch with cones and inflorescences. Coloured engraving by J.J. or J.E. Haid, c.1750, after G.D. Ehret.

Cryptomeria japonica: Photo © Mary Free. Drawing courtesy of Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini, Flora Japonica, Sectio Prima (Tafelband).

Juniperus virginiana. Photo © Mary Free. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 66.

Larix laricina. Photo © Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble CC BY 2.0. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 60.

Picea rubens. Photo © Bibliothèque de l’Université Laval CC BY-SA 4.0 Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 61.

Pinus echinata. Photo © John B. CC BY 2.0. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 58.

Pinus palustris. Photo © Mary Free. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 57.

Pinus pungens. Photo © Plant Image Library CC BY-SA 2.0. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 57.

Pinus rigida. Photo © richardefreeman on Flickr CC BY 2.0. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 57.

Pinus serotina. Photo courtesy of autrpy. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 60.

Pinus strobus. Photo © Mary Free. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 60.

Pinus taeda. Photo © Christa Watters. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 59.

Pinus virginiana. Photo © Derek Ramsey CC BY-SA 2.5. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 59.

Taxus canadensis: Photo © Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org CC BY 3.0. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 67.

Taxodium distichum. Photo © Mary Free. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 62.

Thuja occidentalis. Photo © Elaine Mills. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 65.

Tsuga canadensis. Photo © Elaine Mills. Drawing courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 62.

References

Burns RM, Honkala BH, tech. coords. 1990. Silvics of North America: 1. Conifers, 2. Hardwoods. Agriculture Handbook 654. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, DC

Earle CJ, editor. Last Modified 1/24/2023. The Gymnosperm Database. (accessed January 24, 2023).

Jull L. Revised 8/13/2012. Pruning Evergreens. Item number: XHT1013. UW-Madison Horticulture, UW-Extension.

Plants By Name. Minnesota Wildflowers. (accessed January 22–30, 2023).

Plant Toolbox. North Carolina Cooperative Extension. (accessed January 22–30, 2023).

Rose N. January 6, 2016. Not All Conifers Are Evergreen. Plant Profiles. Arnold Arboretum.

Virginia Tech Dendrology Factsheets. Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. (accessed January 22–30, 2023).

Whiting D, McMulkin L, Jones J, O’Connor A, Potts L, Prins C. Revised 2017. Identifying Conifers (Arborvitae, Douglas Fir, Fir, Juniper, Pine, Spruce, and Yew). CMG GardenNotes #172. Master Gardeners Colorado State University Extension.