Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which conifers lose their leaves each year?

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 most conifers are evergreen, meaning they retain their leaves throughout the year, there are specific exceptions that are deciduous and shed their leaves each autumn.123

The primary conifers that lose their leaves annually include:

Larch (Larix): These trees shed their needlelike leaves in the autumn, a characteristic that distinguishes them from most other conifers.42
Bald cypress (Taxodium): This species sheds its short, comb-like shoots each fall.52
Dawn redwood (Metasequoia): Similar to the bald cypress, this tree also sheds its short shoots annually.52

In these deciduous conifers, the leaves or short shoots are typically replaced by new growth when the growing season resumes in the spring.5