Nearctica - Native Conifers of North America - Conifers of the Eastern Deciduous Forest

Conifers of the Eastern Deciduous Forest

The very name "Eastern Deciduous Forest" would seem to imply that all of the trees found in it were deciduous. Such is not the case because many conifers live there as well. Some of the commoner species are discussed below.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) is one of the more elegant conifers. The tree is easily identified by the long, "soft" and flexible needles and by its elongate female cones borne on a long stalk. The species is found through eastern North America. Eastern White Pine can form nearly pure stands on sandy soils but more commonly is found in small groves or single individuals in deciduous forests of the northeast on well-drained soils and also found along the banks of streams or rivers. Eastern White Pine is a very valuable and important timber tree and is also widely planted as an ornamental.

Learn More About Eastern White Pine

One of the most dominant trees of the Eastern Deciduous Forest in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada is Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Indeed a subsegment of the Eastern Deciduous Forest is called "Beech-Hemlock" forest.

The species is readily recognized by its small female cones handing from the tips of small branchlets. A related species (Tsuga caroliniana) is endemic to the Appalacian Mountains to the south and two other species occur in the Pacific Northwest.

Learn More About Eastern Hemlock

Areas of sandy, or other well drained soils, are dominated in the northeastern and central United States by Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida). The great Pine Barrens of New Jersey are almost solid stands of Pitch Pine. The species is highly adapted to fire, the species sprouting from stumps after a major fire.

Learn More About Pitch Pine

On limestone outcroppings and other rocky soils throughout the eastern half of North America, Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiensis) is commonly found. Junipers are characterized by scale-like leaves and round, berry-like female cones. The "berries" are covered with a waxy white bloom.

The berries of a related species, Juniperus communis, provides the characteristic flavor of gin.

Learn More About Eastern Red Cedar

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) grows in the Atlantic States region of the eastern United States. Virginia Pine does best on well drained soils, but not in sandy soils. The species does best on clay, loam, or sandy loam. The species is very similar to a number of other species, but can usually be identified by a slight twist in the needles.

Learn More About Virginia Pine

	Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) is one of the more elegant conifers. The tree is easily identified by the long, "soft" and flexible needles and by its elongate female cones borne on a long stalk. The species is found through eastern North America. Eastern White Pine can form nearly pure stands on sandy soils but more commonly is found in small groves or single individuals in deciduous forests of the northeast on well-drained soils and also found along the banks of streams or rivers. Eastern White Pine is a very valuable and important timber tree and is also widely planted as an ornamental. Learn More About Eastern White Pine
	One of the most dominant trees of the Eastern Deciduous Forest in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada is Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Indeed a subsegment of the Eastern Deciduous Forest is called "Beech-Hemlock" forest. The species is readily recognized by its small female cones handing from the tips of small branchlets. A related species (Tsuga caroliniana) is endemic to the Appalacian Mountains to the south and two other species occur in the Pacific Northwest. Learn More About Eastern Hemlock
	Areas of sandy, or other well drained soils, are dominated in the northeastern and central United States by Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida). The great Pine Barrens of New Jersey are almost solid stands of Pitch Pine. The species is highly adapted to fire, the species sprouting from stumps after a major fire. Learn More About Pitch Pine
	On limestone outcroppings and other rocky soils throughout the eastern half of North America, Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiensis) is commonly found. Junipers are characterized by scale-like leaves and round, berry-like female cones. The "berries" are covered with a waxy white bloom. *The berries of a related species, Juniperus communis,* provides the characteristic flavor of gin. Learn More About Eastern Red Cedar**
	Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) grows in the Atlantic States region of the eastern United States. Virginia Pine does best on well drained soils, but not in sandy soils. The species does best on clay, loam, or sandy loam. The species is very similar to a number of other species, but can usually be identified by a slight twist in the needles. Learn More About Virginia Pine