Landscape Tree Care

What Are Conifers? A Closer Look at Cone-Bearing Plants

A horizontal image of a coniferous rockery in the landscape with different types of pine and spruce.

You’ve heard the term “conifer,” but what does that actually mean? Many of us picture a stately evergreen with dark green needles, but not all conifers are evergreen and many have scale-like or flat needles. So what exactly is a conifer? Learn about what makes conifers special and how to identify them in this guide.

Learn About 9 Types of Bay Trees

A close up horizontal image of aromatic fresh bay leaves on a wooden chopping board with garlic and other spices.

Sweet bay (Laurus nobilis) isn’t the only plant that goes by this common name. Many species are referred to as “bay,” and lots of them are edible, with a similar flavor to the type we use as a spice. Learn more about nine different bay plants, how they differ from the common type, and whether they are edible. Read more.