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Home , Calocedrus decurrens, Conifer, Thuja plicata

What is a ? Comparison of Common Conifer Trivia Conifers vary considerably among the Tallest in the world: A Guide to the world’s 600-plus , but they do have traits in common. Conifers are or Coast redwood Needles in clusters of over 375 feet tall Conifer Trail with separate male () and 2-5, cones rigid female () cones. The develop on cone scales or related structures, not with- Tallest in eastern U.S.: in protective fruits as in flowering . White pine Conifers increase in diameter through over 180 feet tall , and they conduct water in tapered cells called tracheids. Most have Oldest in the world: needle- or awl-shaped , though this varies. Needles sharp- pointed, attach over 4800 years old singly to stem on short stalks; Oldest in eastern U.S.: Conifer Collection cones dangle from branches Arborvitae Blandy over 1000 years old Experimental Farm Hemlock is home to the Short, blunt Most massive: State Arboretum needles attach Giant of Virginia. The singly to stem; over 30 feet in diameter Arboretum’s cones small, conifer collection egg-shaped Cedar of Lebanon Cones includes about Most beautiful: 1,400 specimens You decide! from across and Leaves flat, blunt- around the globe. tipped, attaching The collection The Arboretum’s State directly to stem on features one-third Champion Umbrella Pine State Arboretum of Virginia rounded bases; cones of the world’s pine At the University of Virginia’s Historic upright, disintegrating in species, as well as less common species place Blandy Experimental Farm such as fir, Japanese umbrella pine, State Arboretum of Virginia and sawara . Blandy is also home Top 3 Images Courtesy Va. Dept. of At the University of Virginia’s Historic to a grove of over 300 trees, close Bottom Image Courtesy USDA BLANDY EXPERIMENTAL FARM relatives of conifers. Several of our conifers 400 Blandy Farm Lane • Boyce VA 22620 are state champions. 540-837-1758 • blandy.virginia.edu 2.5k/10-2019 1. Japanese umbrella pine ( verticilla- 16. ( menziesii) ta) A rare species, once widespread but now native Conifer Trail In the U.S., only redwoods and sequoias grow taller. only to southern Japan. Needles formed from two 9 15 The hard, strong has been used for ship masts, 10 11 fused leaves. Beautiful specimen . C* dock pilings, and railroad ties. Cones with distinctive Display three-pronged appendages. Case 8 18 2. Bald cypress ( distichum) A tree of 16 6 7 17 southern swamps known for “knees” that grow up 12 17. Ponderosa pine () from its roots in wet soil. Leaves turn from soft green 14 A dominant tree in the west that can reach 250’ tall. to bronze in autumn before falling. D** Native Americans used needles to treat cough and 19 20 fever and made a blue dye from the roots. C 3. Incense cedar ( decurrens) Crushed 1

13 & Ginkgo Grove leaves have a fragrant, familiar aroma. 2 18. Western redcedar ( plicata) A massive, A western U.S. native used to make pencils. D 3 To Cedar of Lebanon Allee long-lived native of the . Its aro-

5 Staff matic, water-resistant wood is used for roof shingles,

Parking 4. China fir ( lanceolata) 4 chests, greenhouses, and saunas, and historically for A native of Asia used in construction. It is used totem poles and . 23 in the U.S. as a landscape tree, though in cool cli- 22 21 mates the branches tend to brown and drop. 19. Himalayan white pine () Attractive tree having soft, flexible needles in bundles Quarters 5. Japanese cedar ( japonica) Dogwood Lane of five and cones up to 10 inches long. C A beautiful, long-lived tree that can reach 150 feet. Dwarf Conifer 20. White spruce () Native of North Traditionally planted at shrines and tombs. Parkfield Collection Amphitheater Learning America’s northern . Foliage eaten by rabbits, Approximate Center North route ; seeds favored by red squirrels. 6. (Abies fraseri) Native to the southern Visitor Parking Appalachians. Prefers cool, foggy habitats at mid to 21. Arizona cypress ( arizonica) high elevation. Fraser and balsam are in decline A drought-tolerant native of the U.S. Southwest. This due to introduced balsam woolly adelgid. D 10. European () A 13. Sawara cypress ( pisifera) An specimen is the Virginia state champion. C, D conifer that sheds its golden yellow needles each fall. 7. White fir () Native to the western important timber tree in Japan known for its strong, The needles arise from short spurs or short . 22. Dawn redwood ( glyptostroboi- U.S. mountains. Needles are flat and blunt-tipped, fragrant wood. A relative of our eastern white cedar. des) A “living ,” thought to be extinct by western typical of firs. A useful landscape tree. 11. Norway spruce () The most 14. Eastern hemlock ( canadensis) Once an science until found growing in China in the 1940s. commonly planted ornamental spruce in the U.S. Now widely planted as an ornamental. D 8. Balsam fir () Native from Virginia important member of eastern forests, now succumb- Can be recognized from a distance by its pendu- to maritime . Seeds are eaten by squirrels, ing to the sap-feeding hemlock woolly adelgid. Unusu- lous branches. Used in making high-quality musical 23. American arborvitae () songbirds, and other wildlife. al for a conifer, it grows well in shade. D instruments. Having awl-shaped leaves and small, -like cones. The leaves provide food, and the dense cano- 9. Blue Atlas cedar ( atlantica ‘Glauca’) 12. Cedar of Lebanon () Once used in py provides shelter for wildlife. Popular landscape tree prized for its blue needles 15. Red spruce () The beautiful, shipbuilding and embalming. Has been cut extensive- resonant wood is used to make high-quality violins, and attractive form. Note the spiral arrangement of its * C = Virginia State Champion; ** D = Dial-a-Tree ly in its native Turkey and Lebanon, but restoration is guitars, mandolins, and other instruments. The sap needles, common in true cedars. Best viewed from Recordings available at blandy.virginia.edu underway. Pictured on the Lebanese flag. D the open lawn. was once used to make spruce chewing gum.