7 Fascinating Facts About Conifer Trees (2024)

Marie Read

Pick Your Perfect Size

Pines come in a variety of sizes. Low-mounding dwarf forms top out at 1 foot, while mature white pines can soar to 150 feet or more. These 10 dwarf conifers are perfect for filling a small space.

The Difference Between Pines and Conifers

All pine trees are conifers, but not all conifers are pine trees. To tell if you’re looking at a pine tree, see if the needles on the branches are bunched together. Most pines have needles in small groups of two to five. Check out the best types of conifer trees and how to grow them.

One Bird Shares Its Name With a Pine

The pinyon jay is named after one of its favorite food sources: pinyon pine seeds. Find out more about the jay family of birds—and how to attract them to your yard.

Pine Cones Are Strong

Some pine cones have staying power, and hold on to their branches for more than 10 years. Have little ones help you make a DIY pine cone bird feeder!

Grow Your Own Nuts

You can grow and harvest pine nuts from your own tree, although it could take up to 15 years to mature. Psst—learn how to grow your own birdseed.

A Very Special Pine

Nicknamed “Phalanx,” a ponderosa pine in Oregon is one of the tallest in the world at 268 feet.

Certain Pines Have Long Needles

Longleaf pine’s dark green needles grow in groups of three, each needle reaching 9 inches or longer.

Next, learn fun facts about Christmas trees.

Rachel Maidl is a former senior editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. She enjoys bird-watching in her urban backyard and local state parks, gardening for pollinators and researching new plants. Her favorite backyard visitors are the bumblebees that visit her sedums.