Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which conifers have broad leaves instead of needles?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The massive Grizzly Giant sequoia tree stands with a wide, reddish-brown trunk and a hollowed base, surrounded by other tall trees in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park. — Conifer A giant sequoia (*Sequoiadendron giganteum*) estimated to be between 1,900 and 2,400 years old, Grizzly Giant is the oldest tree in the Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California.

While many people associate conifers exclusively with needles or scales, some species possess broad, flat leaves. It is a common misconception that all conifers must have needle-shaped foliage; in reality, leaf shape varies significantly across the division Pinophyta.

Genera such as Agathis and certain species of Decussocarpus feature broad, flat, oblong blades that can reach up to 30 cm in length. Additionally, the monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) is known for its hefty, triangular, wedge-shaped leaves.

Even when these leaves are broad rather than needlelike, they often retain typical conifer adaptations to minimize water loss, such as a thick, waxy, waterproof coating and stomates that are deeply sunken into the leaf surface to protect them from dry air.12