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Which familiar trees belong to the conifer group?

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Tall giant sequoia trees with reddish bark and thick trunks rise closely together in a dense forest at Sequoia National Park, California. — Tree A stand of giant sequoia trees (*Sequoiadendron giganteum*) in Sequoia National Park, California.

Conifers are members of the division Pinophyta, a group of gymnosperm plants that typically feature needle-shaped or scale-like evergreen leaves and seeds borne on woody cones.123

Many familiar trees belong to the conifer group, including:

Pines (Pinus), which are well-known for their needle-like leaves.23
Firs (Abies), a genus of evergreen trees often used as Christmas trees.4
Spruces (Picea), which are common timber trees.2
Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga), a significant source of commercial lumber.24
Hemlocks (Tsuga).2
Giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) and coast redwoods, which are among the largest and tallest living organisms.2
Larches (Larix), bald cypress (Taxodium), and dawn redwoods, which are notable for being deciduous rather than evergreen.2

While most conifers are evergreen, these specific examples illustrate the diversity within the group, which ranges from small shrubs to the world's tallest trees.23