Conifers

trees · seeds · evergreen · forest

Cone-shaped seeds. Conifers make their seeds inside woody cones, which is why they're called conifers. The cones open up when ready, and the seeds blow away on the wind to grow new trees.

Stay green year-round. Most conifers are evergreen, meaning they keep their needle-like leaves all winter long while other trees lose theirs. This helps them survive in cold places where many other plants can't grow.

Wind does the work. Conifers don't need bees or other insects to make babies. Instead, the wind carries pollen from male cones to female cones, and the wind spreads their seeds far and wide.

Over 600 species. There are more than 600 different kinds of conifers alive today, from tiny shrubs to the tallest trees on Earth. You can find them on almost every continent.

Ancient wood builders. Conifers are tough, woody plants that can live for hundreds of years, making them great for building houses, paper, and surviving harsh climates.