Conifers or softwoods are classed as gymnosperms or plants with naked seeds not enclosed in an ovary. These seed "fruits" are considered more primitive than hardwoods.
Conifers can lose their needles annually but most are evergreen. These trees have needlelike or scalelike foliage and usually renew many leaves annually (but not all every year). The foliage is usually narrow and sharp-pointed or small and scale-like.
If you are confused with some of the terms used here, please use my definitions of terms used for tree identification.
Several Common Terms for this Major Tree Category
- CONIFER - A tree belonging to the order Coniferales. Trees with needles or scalelike leaves and cones as opposed to broad, flat leaves that more often than not are coneless.
- EVERGREEN - perennial plants which normally keep foliage or needles through the entire year.
- SOFTWOOD - Softwood trees are usually evergreen, bear cones, and have needles or scalelike leaves. They include pine, spruces, firs, and cedars. Wood hardness varies among the conifer species, and some are actually harder than some hardwoods.
The Most Common Conifer Trees
Identify trees known variously as conifers, evergreens, or softwoods:
baldcypress |
cedar
|
Douglas-fir |
fir |
hemlock |
larch |
pine |
redwood |
spruce
|
juniper
