13 Captivating Conifers

If your landscape or garden needs a sense of structure, and you want plants with wonderful textures, shapes and colors, consider conifer trees. These are plants with seed-filled cones and needles or spiny foliage. Some of these evergreen tree types shed their needles in winter, but most don’t.

You can find conifers in a wide range of sizes. Some have a pyramidal shape, like trimmed, traditional Christmas trees, while others are low-growing and have flat forms. Pine trees are among the most common conifers in the United States, and blue pine trees, including different varieties of spruces, junipers and cedars, are especially popular and beautiful. Cypress trees and shrubs are also popular conifers, although they’re in a different genus or botanical group. Keep going to find the best conifer for your landscape.

With dense, silver-blue needles, this striking juniper is a stellar addition to borders and rock gardens.

A compact version of the favorite bonsai plant, Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead' shows off dense green needles and silver buds. The dwarf Japanese black pine's irregular growth habit promises no two trees are the same.

Named after Bill Cosby's jolly cartoon character, this hardy evergreen is favored for its pyramid shape and long, branches full of silvery-blue needles.