Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Distinguishing Conifers from Pines and Fir Trees
• Method 2 of 2: US Conifers

Conifers are evergreens, which means they do not lose their color all year round and produce buds. In total, there are about 40 species of conifers in the world, and they all grow in northern latitudes. Like pines and firs, other conifers have needles rather than leaves, although this can be difficult to tell. When determining the type of coniferous tree, you need to carefully study the leaves, bark and cones, as well as estimate the height of the tree.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Distinguishing Conifers from Pines and Fir Trees

1. 1 Examine the breed identification needles.
   • Spruce needles are attached to branches individually, not in groups.
   • Conifers' needles are sharp, stiff and square, which allows them to roll easily between your toes. The spruce needles are flat and soft and cannot be rolled between your fingers.
2. 2 Try branches. Pine needles have a rough tree projection near branches. Spruce branches are smoother.
3. 3 Examine the bumps. The presence of cones is the key to identifying pine trees, but the differences between the scales can be complicated. Typically pine cones have tough, woody scales, and spruce scales will be more elastic because they are thinner. The buds can be bright and vertical on top of the branches, or they can hang down.
4. 4 Look at the bark. Pine bark is rough even at a young age, however, old pine and spruce bark will also be rough due to age, which makes the distinction more difficult.
5. 5 Step back and look at the shape of the tree. The pine trees are narrow, conical in shape, and their tops are arranged in a circle.

Method 2 of 2: US Conifers

1. 1 It is easier to narrow the circle by region. Red, black and white pines grow only in the eastern states, but blue and Sitka, Brewers and Engelman grow in rocky and mountainous regions and further west.
   • Red spruces grow 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 m) in rocky ground. The needles are yellow-green, the cones hang from the branches.
   • Black spruces have buds of about 1 inch (2.5 cm), purple, and reddish brown when ripe. Black spruces have blue-green needles that are greener than white spruces. As a rule, they grow in swampy areas.
   • White spruces have blue-green needles and cones hanging from their branches. They grow taller than 100 feet (30 m). Their homeland is the Midwest and the eastern states, but they grow throughout Canada and Alaska.
   • Blue spruce, also called Colorado. Grows up to 100 feet (30 m) with blue-green, silvery needles.
   • Sitka - were named after a tribe in Alaska. These are tall spruces, taller than 200 feet (60 m) with trunks that reach 16 feet (5 m) in diameter.
   • Engelman is a breed bearing cylindrical buds that can be about 3 inches (8 cm) red or purple when not yet ripe. They turn light brown when ripe.
   • Ate Brewers are rarely found at high altitudes in the climates of California and Oregon. They are distinguished by branches that hang down, which allows the needles to create a kind of curtain.