Conifers

trees · evergreen · cones · plants

Cone-shaped seeds. Conifers make special structures called cones that hold their seeds. Male cones release pollen into the air, while female cones catch it and grow seeds inside.

Green all winter. Most conifers are evergreen, which means they keep their needle-like or scale-like leaves even in freezing winter. This helps them survive in cold and snowy places.

Wind does the work. Conifers don't need insects or animals to carry pollen. Instead, wind blows pollen from tree to tree, and wind also carries seeds far away to grow new forests.

Super common trees. There are over 600 different kinds of conifers around the world, from tiny shrubs to some of the tallest and oldest trees on Earth.

Tough and woody. Conifers are all woody plants with strong trunks and branches that can last for hundreds of years, making them perfect for building homes and making paper.