It doesn’t take a botanist to know that there are many different species of trees. Almost all trees fall into one of two categories, deciduous trees and coniferous trees. In this article, we’ll look at examples of 30 types of coniferous trees, some of which you will probably recognize!
What is a coniferous tree?
Coniferous trees have certain characteristics that make them different from other trees. The one characteristic that really makes coniferous trees or conifers stand out is the presence of needles instead of leaves. Additionally, instead of bearing flowers or fruits, conifers also have cones (like pine cones) that act as seed pods for coniferous trees.
Most types of coniferous trees are evergreen, meaning that they stay green all year long. Some types of coniferous trees will shed their needles throughout the year, they do not lose all of their foliage at once.
Where do coniferous trees grow?
Most conifers live in the Northern Hemisphere in temperate or cooler climates. Many of the trees within boreal forests are conifers, which thrive in colder climates. However, there are some types of coniferous trees that grow in tropical and subtropical climates.
The majority of coniferous trees are found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.
Types of coniferous trees
1. Eastern White Pine tree (Pinus strobus)
The Eastern White Pine is one of the many species of pine trees (within the genus Pinus) to make this list. Eastern White Pines are found widely throughout the Northeastern United States as well as southeastern Canada. Eastern White Pines tend to tower over most other species of trees in Northeastern Forests.
2. Western White Pine tree (Pinus monticola)
The Western White Pine, is you guessed it, from the western United States. It is found throughout several of the western mountain ranges like the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and Rocky mountains. This species can also be found along the rugged coastlines of Oregon and Washington. The Western White Pine is also the state tree of Idaho.
3. Sugar Pine tree (Pinus lambertiana)
The Sugar Pine is the largest and tallest species of pine tree. Additionally, cones from Sugar Pines are longer than all other types of coniferous trees. The Sugar Pine has a smaller distribution and can only be found in the mountainous parts of Oregon and California, but occurs as far south as Baja California.
4. Red Pine tree (Pinus resinosa)
The Red Pine Tree is native to New England and other Northern States like Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota where it is the state tree. Red Pines may also be found scattered throughout parts of the Appalachian mountain range and in Southeastern Canada.
5. Longleaf Pine tree (Pinus palustris)
Longleaf Pine trees are somewhat unique to other pines on this list as they are from the Southeastern United States. It tends to grow in coastal or marshland habitats, however Longleaf Pines are actually endangered. Longleaf Pine trees were nearly wiped out during the 19th century due to demands for lumber, but conservation groups have dedicated efforts to restore Longleaf Pines.
6. Pitch Pine tree (Pinus rigida)
The Pitch Pine tree is kind of the ugly duckling of Pine trees. In fact, it is hardly used for timber due to the fact that the trunks and branches of Pitch Pines are normally crooked and abnormally shaped. These trees grow throughout much of the Eastern United States and are able to capitalize on environments with acidic, sandy, and low nutrient soil.
7. Loblolly Pine tree (Pinus taeda)
The Loblolly Pine is one of the handful of coniferous trees that can be found in the southern United States. These trees are capable of growing very quickly, growing up to two feet per year. Loblolly Pines grow in swamps and marshlands throughout much of the southeast and are actually one of the most common species of tree in the United States.
8. Slash Pine tree (Pinus elliottii)
Slash Pine trees grow in high densities in Florida and Georgia, but also grow in South Carolina and as far east as Louisiana. This species can also grow as far south as the Florida Keys, where most other coniferous trees do not. The timber from Slash Pines is remarkably strong, and has historically been used to build naval ships.
9. Sand Pine tree (Pinus clausa)
The Sand Pine is an endemic pine tree, native to Florida and coastal Alabama. In Florida, it grows throughout much of the peninsula and coastal regions along the panhandle. Sand Pines are integral parts of the Florida scrub ecosystem, where it is one of the few tree species able to survive in the sandy, arid climate of scrubland.
10. Colorado Pinyon tree (Pinus edulis)
The Colorado Pinyon, also known as Pinyon Pine, is a drought-resistant tree, allowing for it to survive in arid regions throughout the Southwest. It grows throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, southeastern California, and parts of Oklahoma and Texas. Colorado Pines rely on Pinyon Jays for seed dispersal, which peck seeds out of the cones and distribute them.
11. Single Leaf Pinyon tree (Pinus monophylla)
The Single Leaf Pinyon is a close relative to the Colorado Pinyon and can be found in many of the same states. These trees grow in the very southern tip of Idaho, Utah, Arizona, southwest New Mexico, and parts of southern California. While you may not be familiar with this species of tree, you may be familiar with their seeds- pine nuts which are roasted, salted and eaten as snacks.
12. Black Spruce tree (Picea mariana)
The Black Spruce is widely spread and common in northern North America. Black Spruce Trees can be found throughout much of Canada, Alaska and in the northeastern United States. Black Spruce trees are very common in the boreal forests of their range.
13. Red Spruce tree (Picea rubens)
Most people are familiar with the Red Spruce without even knowing it! That’s because these trees are famously used as Christmas trees. Red Spruce trees have a small distribution restricted to the Northeast United states and Quebec and Nova Scotia. There are also some disjunct or fractured distributions of Red Spruce trees in the Adirondack mountains.
14. White Spruce tree (Picea glauca)
The White Spruce is made for surviving incredibly cold and extreme environments. In fact, White Spruce trees can withstand temperatures as low as ~60℉. This makes them perfect for living in the harsh conditions found in Alaska, much of Canada and the northern portions of Michigan, Wisconsin, Vermont, Maine and Newhampshire.
15. Giant Redwood tree (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
Giant Redwoods aren’t called “giant” for nothing! These trees are actually some of the largest in the world. Giant Redwoods can grow to be over 300 feet tall, however they typically grow to be anywhere between 164-279 feet tall. They also grow to be quite wide as well, with their trunks growing to diameters of 20-26 feet.
It takes an incredibly long time for Giant Redwoods to reach their maximum heights. The oldest specimen is thought to be anywhere between 3,200-3,266 years old!
16. Red Cedar tree (Thuja plicata)
Red Cedar trees are incredibly common and widespread throughout the Pacific Northwestern states (Washington, Oregon, and parts of California) as well as British Columbia, Canada. They are tolerant to shady areas and do not need much sunlight to survive, which likely explains their success in the Pacific Northwest.
17. Douglas Fir tree (Psuedotsuga menziesii)
There are two variants or subspecies of the Douglas Fir tree: the Coastal Douglas Fir and the Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir. The Coastal Douglas fir grows along the coast in parts of British Columbia, Canada and throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Rocky Mountain Douglas fir, to no surprise, grows along the Rocky mountains but can be found as far south as Mexico.
18. Balsam Fir tree (Abies balsamea)
Balsam Firs are famously known for their piney, earthy scents that tend to be included in holiday scented candles. They are also commonly grown on plantations and farms to be cut down as Christmas trees. Balsam firs have broad distributions and can be found throughout much of the Northeastern United states and Eastern Canada.
19. Fraser Fir tree (Abies fraseri)
Fraser Fir trees are relatively small trees, growing to be 30-50 feet tall. These trees also have a small distribution and can only be found in a few small pockets of the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. This has likely led to their conservation status, which lists them as endangered.
20. Grand Fir tree (Abies grandis)
The Grand Fir Tree gets its name from it’s large size. In fact, the Grand Fir is thought to be the largest species of Fir tree and on average grows between 131-229 feet in height. Grand Fir trees grow in Washington, Oregon, and in Southern British Columbia, Canada. There are two variants of the Grand Fir, the Coast Grand fir and the Interior Grand Fir which are separated by the Cascade Mountains.
21. Noble Fir tree (Abies procera)
The Noble Fir is found almost exclusively along the Cascade Mountain range in the Pacific Northwest, however they also grow in small pockets along the coast in California, Oregon and Washington. Noble Fir trees are commonly grown and cut as Christmas trees and their wood is often used as timber and in paper making.
22. Tamarack tree (Larix laricina)
Tamarack trees are in a group of trees called Larch trees. Larch are interesting because they are considered deciduous conifers, meaning that they have needles that change colors and drop, depending on the season. Tamaracks are found in Northeastern America and throughout much of Canada. They thrive in moist environments like swamps and bogs.
23. Subalpine Larch (Larix lyallii)
Subalpine Larch are incredibly hardy trees that thrive in very high altitudes. It can be found in the Rocky Mountains and in parts of the Cascade Mountains. They can survive freezing temperatures, with or without shade, and can grow even in fine, rocky soil.
24. Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Bald Cypresses are another type of deciduous conifers that drop their needles in autumn. They are native to the Southeastern United states where they grow in swamps, bogs, ponds and even lakes. However, Bald Cypress can also tolerate drier soils, making them very hardy and adaptable.
25. Pond Cypress (Taxodium ascendens)
Pond Cypress are very similar to Bald Cypress and are also native to the Southeastern United States, where they range south from Virginia, to Florida excluding the Florida Keys and as far west as Louisiana. They grow best in slow moving rivers, ponds and swamps.
26. Common Juniper (Juniperus communis)
Common Junipers are essentially a mix between a coniferous tree and shrub. They are found throughout almost the entirety of Canada and there are pockets of Common Junipers sprinkled throughout the United States. They are commonly used for aesthetic purposes in landscaping. Perhaps more notably though, their berries are used in the process of making gin, which gives it a strong, piney flavor.
27. Eastern Hemlock tree (Tsuga canadensis)
Next up is the Eastern Hemlock, the state tree of Pennsylvania. Eastern Hemlocks are types of coniferous trees that prefer cooler climates with relatively high humidity. They grow well in the shade and can be found along rocky ledges. These trees are found throughout the Northeast United States, and as far south as northern Alabama. Eastern Hemlocks also grow in Southern Quebec and Ontario, Canada.
28. Western Hemlock tree (Tsuga heterophylla)
Western Hemlocks do exceptionally well in shade, which makes them perfect for growing in the Pacific Northwest. They can be found in Northern California. Western Oregon, Washington, up into British Columbia, Canada and even as far north as Alaska. Western Hemlocks tend to outcompete other trees and are considered “climax species” which are organisms that can thrive even without ample resources.
29. Carolina Hemlock tree (Tsuga caroliniana)
The Carolina Hemlock has a restricted distribution, and is only found in parts of the Appalachian Mountain Range in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. Carolina Hemlocks are commonly used in landscaping, due to their deep root systems that easily allow for other plants, shrubs and trees to grow nearby.
30. Mountain Hemlock tree (Tsuga mertensiana)
The Mountain Hemlock shares a similar distribution to the Western Hemlock, growing from Northern California, through the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, Canada and into Alaska. However, they have a much narrower range than the Western Hemlock. Additionally, they tend to grow at much higher altitudes and thrive high up on mountain slopes.
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