Jim Chatfield would want you to know your conifers. It's easy!
Pines & Spruces have ROUND needles.
- White pine (Pinus strobus) has 4 or 5 long, thin, and bendy needles in a cluster. Woody cones longer and thinner than red pine.
- Red pine (Pinus resinosa) has 2 thick, snapable needles in a cluster. Short woody cones.
- Larch (Larix laricina) is in the pine family and its needles form uniquely in whorls. Small woody cones form directly on branches.
- Spruces have very sharp needles that circle the entire branch. Norway spruce (Picea abies) branches curve upwards at the tips. Blue spruce (Picea pungens) has pretty blue-tinted needles. Large hanging woody cones.
Yew, Arborvitae, Juniper, Fir, Hemlock, Baldcypress, and Dawn redwood (not pictured) all have FLAT needles.
- Yew (Taxus spp.) are the most common pruned shrub; has red "berries" in the fall.
- Arborvitae (Thuja spp.) needles are scale-like and very flat; has small upright woody cones.
- Juniper (Juniperus spp.) has scale-like needles that are thinner and rounder than arborvitae; has small berry-like blue/white cones.
- Firs (Abies spp.) are usually larger trees and the underside of the branches is flat (that is, the needles do not circle the entire branch as in spruce...plus fir needles are flat, not round). Large woody upright cones.
- Hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) have short needles that are white underneath (similar to fir, but hemlock needles barely overlap). Small hanging woody cones.
- Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) has small green/gray cones.
- Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) has larger needles than baldcypress; branches opposite. Small hanging woody cones.
