Coniferous describes trees that produce cones and typically have needle-like or scale-like leaves that often stay green all year. Pine trees, spruces, firs, and redwoods are all coniferous trees.

If you've ever picked up a pinecone from the ground, you've held the seed container of a coniferous tree. These cones open up to release seeds that can grow into new trees. Walk through a coniferous forest and you'll notice the ground is often covered with a soft carpet of fallen needles instead of broad leaves.

Most coniferous trees are evergreen, meaning they keep their green needles year-round instead of dropping them all at once in autumn. This makes coniferous forests look alive and green even in the middle of winter, which is why we often use them as Christmas trees. Their needle-shaped leaves have a waxy coating that helps them survive cold temperatures and reduces water loss.

The opposite of coniferous is deciduous, which describes trees like oaks and maples that have broad, flat leaves and lose them each fall. Coniferous forests dominate colder regions like Canada, Scandinavia, and Siberia, forming vast stretches of woodland called the taiga, or boreal forest.