Not all conifer species have needle-like leaves; some have flat, broad leaves or scale-like structures. Many species are “giants” in the plant kingdom in terms of size.
Dawn Redwood (Cephalotaxus fortunei) grows to 9 meters tall, found in the forests of Eastern and Central China. This conifer species has dense branching, with fleshy cones that turn brown when ripe, which may mislead many to think it is a flowering plant.
Japanese Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) reaches a height of 25 meters and is limited to the mountainous regions of Japan. They have slender leaves that spread out like the spokes of an umbrella, with brittle cones when fully mature.
Lawson Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) can grow up to 50 meters tall and is native to the western part of North America. Like many other cypress species, it features small scale-like leaves that radiate in a star shape and small-sized cones.
Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) grows to 30 meters and is found in the mountainous regions of China and Japan. This tree is recognized by its slender leaves and small, round cones.
Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) reaches heights of 20 meters and grows on rocky mountain slopes in the western United States. Like other junipers, this long-lived species produces seeds within berry-like cones.
Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) grows up to 110 meters tall and is native to the coastal regions of Northern California. As the tallest tree species in the world, it has relatively sparse branches and can live for up to 1,000 years.
Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) can reach 100 meters in height and grows in California. It is the largest tree species in terms of mass, with some living specimens weighing over 5,000 tons and possessing fire-resistant bark that can be up to 60 cm thick.
Metasequoia (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) grows to 40 meters and is a deciduous tree native to Central China. Extremely rare in the wild, it was thought to be extinct by the 1940s, as it was only known through fossils until then.
Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) reaches a height of 25 meters and is found along the coast of California. Although it is only recorded in a very narrow range in nature, this wide-canopied tree is widely cultivated around the world.
Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides) grows up to 60 meters and is native to East Asia. As one of the largest conifer species in Asia, it can achieve a trunk diameter of 3 meters.
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) grows to 40 meters and thrives in the swamps of the Southeastern United States. Its base flares out to provide stability in soft, flooded lands, with roots that have many exposed knobs to access oxygen.
Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) grows to 50 meters and is distributed in the Northwest of North America. It has scale-like leaves that grow in flat clusters, and its wood is highly resistant to decay.
California Nutmeg (Torreya californica) grows to 30 meters and is limited to the canyons of the California mountains. This rare conifer species has female cones that resemble nutmeg fruits.
European Yew (Taxus baccata) reaches a height of 20 meters and is common in Europe and Southwestern Asia. The cone scales of this popular ornamental tree transform into fleshy arils that contain seeds inside. Many parts of the tree are toxic.
