Last October I attended the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Conifer Society in Athens, GA. Non-gardening friends are always surprised to learn there is such a thing. In fact the Southeast has become a hotbed of activity and research for those who grow and love conifers. If you had a live or artificial Christmas tree this year, odds are that it was or represented a conifer. However, conifers don’t just look like your Christmas tree. They come in all shapes, sizes and a variety of colors. Some keep their needles year-round; some drop them with brilliant shows of fall color.

Conifers are chiefly cone-bearing plants, typically with evergreen leaves (needles). The classification includes pines, spruces, firs, larches, yews, junipers, cedars, cypresses and sequoias. They belong to a special group of plants called gymnosperms. Gymnosperm plants have unprotected seeds that are not covered with a fleshy fruit. Unlike an apple whose seeds are tucked away and protected by lots of fruit, conifers have cones with unprotected seeds.

Collectors’ Items:
People collect all kinds of things. I know folks with boxes of beanbag animals with the tags still attached. They tell me that someday the market for those will rebound. I also know many gardeners who have become passionate about collecting conifers. One of the main reasons conifers are so much fun to collect is because they come in all shapes and sizes. They range from hundreds of feet to just a few inches high and wide. Many can live for centuries and you can find unique plants that grow in any region of the country. Additionally, there are many like-minded gardeners around who enjoy conifers. Joining a group like the American Conifer Society (www.conifersociety.org) can help get you connected. Members receive four issues of the Conifer Quarterly, an excellent publication that includes information on finding, growing and caring for conifers.

Click here to read more in the February Digital issue