Silvics of North America (1991), a forest inventory compiled and published by the United States Forest Service, includes many conifers. It superseded Silvics of Forest Trees of the United States (1965), which was the first extensive American tree inventory. A variety of statistics on all of these trees are maintained by the National Plant Data Team of the US Department of Agriculture.
All of the conifers in the inventory except the larches and some bald cypresses are evergreens. Apart from two species in the yew family, all are in either the pine family (including firs, larches, spruces, pines, Douglas firs and hemlocks) or the cypress family (including junipers, redwoods, giant sequoias, bald cypresses and four genera of cedars).
Softwood from North American conifers has a variety of commercial uses. The sturdier timber is milled for plywood, wood veneer and construction framing, including structural support beams and studs. Logs can be fashioned into posts, poles and railroad ties. Less sturdy timber is often ground and processed into pulpwood, principally for papermaking. Resins from sap yield wood tar, turpentine or other terpenes. Some resins and other tree products contain dangerous toxins (not generally listed below).
Key
West of the Mississippi River: AK Alaska AR Arkansas AZ Arizona CA California CO Colorado IA Iowa ID Idaho KS Kansas LA Louisiana MN Minnesota MO Missouri MT Montana ND North Dakota NE Nebraska NM New Mexico NV Nevada OK Oklahoma OR Oregon SD South Dakota TX Texas UT Utah WA Washington WY Wyoming. (Hawaii is not associated with any conifer species in the 1991 inventory.)
These can be divided into: The continental Western states: AK AZ CA CO ID MT NM NV OR UT WA WY The South Central states: AR LA OK TX The Midwestern states west of the Mississippi (including MN, which is mostly west or north of the river), also called the western Midwest: IA KS MN MO ND NE SD
East of the Mississippi: AL Alabama CT Connecticut DE Delaware FL Florida GA Georgia IL Illinois IN Indiana KY Kentucky MA Massachusetts MD Maryland ME Maine MI Michigan MS Mississippi NC North Carolina NH New Hampshire NJ New Jersey NY New York OH Ohio PA Pennsylvania RI Rhode Island TN Tennessee VA Virginia VT Vermont WI Wisconsin WV West Virginia
These can be divided into: New England: CT MA ME NH RI VT The Mid-Atlantic: DE MD NJ NY PA VA WV The Southeast: AL FL GA KY MS NC SC TN The Midwestern states east of the Mississippi, also called the eastern Midwest: IL IN MI OH WI
Conifers
+Species and a common nameNotes and commercial usesEastern distribution
western distribution
;growth rateLimits for soil pH, annual precipitation and low temperatureToleranceto and ShadeLandscapes, bark and cones with foliageAbies amabilis (Pacific silver fir)Can reach in height. The timber is lightweight, with low resin content. The species can easily be distinguished from non-fir conifers by the grey, blistery trunk and rigid branches. Uses: timber; landscaping, pulpwood, veneers, winter holiday decorationsAK CA OR WA
; slowpH 3.3–6.0Fire:intolerantShade:tolerantAbies balsamea (balsam fir)A significant source of food and shelter for wildlife. Horizontal blisters in the bark contain aromatic Canada balsam.
Uses: timber; landscaping, pulpwood, terpenes, veneers, winter holiday decorationsIN MI OH WI, New England and the Mid-Atlantic
; slowpH 4.0–6.0Fire:intolerantShade:tolerantAbies concolor (white fir)The high-grade wood is used widely for framing and plywood. Uses: timber; landscaping, pulpwood, veneers, winter holiday decorationsMA ME
AZ CO ID NM NV OR UT WY
; slowpH 5.5–7.8Fire:mediumShade:mediumAbies fraseri (Fraser fir)The only fir with a range limited to the southern Appalachians. It provides watershed protection, and is grown commercially for winter holidays. Uses: landscaping, pulpwood, veneers, winter holiday decorationsGA NC TN VA
; moderatepH 3.5–5.5Fire:intolerantShade:tolerantAbies grandis (grand fir)Can reach in height. The foliage has a distinct orange-like scent. The wood is soft, and not as durable as in other fir species. Uses: timber; landscaping, pulpwood, veneers, winter holiday decorationsCA ID MT OR WA
; moderatepH 4.5–7.5Fire:tolerantShade:tolerantAbies lasiocarpa (subalpine fir)Provides habitat for wildlife and nutrition for livestock.
Uses: timber; landscaping, pulpwood, winter holiday decorationsthe continental Western states
; slowpH 4.0–6.5Fire:intolerantShade:tolerantAbies magnifica (California red fir)Prevalent near many natural water sources at high altitudes in California. Uses: timber; landscaping, pulpwood, veneers, winter holiday decorationsNY
CA NV OR
; slowpH 5.0–6.1Fire:intolerantShade:tolerantAbies procera (noble fir)Limited to the Cascade Range and coastal mountain ranges west of that range. It is the largest fir. The wood is stronger (and generally more expensive) than in other firs. Uses: timber; landscaping, pulpwood, veneers, winter holiday decorationsCA OR WA
; rapidpH 6.0–7.5Fire:intolerantShade:mediumCallitropsis nootkatensis (Alaska cedar)Formerly a significant timber tree providing durable, multi-use wood. Most of the trees have already been cleared, aside from limited numbers in protected areas. It is listed as Chamaecyparis nootkatensis in the 1991 inventory.
Uses: timber; landscapingAK CA OR WA
; slowpH 5.5–7.0Fire:intolerantShade:tolerantCalocedrus decurrens (incense cedar)Known as Libocedrus decurrens in the 1991 inventory. The heartwood is often used for siding. Uses: timber; posts, veneersCA NV OR
; slowpH 4.6–7.1Fire:intolerantShade:mediumChamaecyparis lawsoniana (Port Orford cedar)Susceptible to root rot. The logs are frequently exported to Japan. As an ornamental tree, it has more than 200 known cultivars. Uses: constructionCA OR
; moderatepH 4.2–7.5Fire:mediumShade:tolerantChamaecyparis thyoides (Atlantic white cedar)Usually found in swamps and marshes. The decay-resistant wood retains commercial value in the Southeast, although harvesting has considerably reduced its acreage. Uses: timber; landscaping, postsAL MS and every state on the Atlantic coast
; moderatepH 3.5–6.3Fire:mediumShade:mediumJuniperus occidentalis (western juniper)Used locally since the 19th century for durable poles and as firewood, and now also for furniture, toys and paneling. Uses: landscaping, posts, veneersCA ID NV OR WA
; slowpH 6.0–8.5Fire:intolerantShade:intolerantJuniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper)Usually a shrub or small tree. The wood is durable, especially when seasoned, and suitable for furniture. The resins are aromatic. Uses: landscaping, posts, veneersAll continental states west of the Mississippi, except for AK, CA and the five states just west of the river (AR IA LA MN MO)
; slowpH 5.0–8.5Fire:intolerantShade:intolerantJuniperus virginiana (eastern red cedar)An important support species for wildlife throughout its range. Although the tree has limited commercial use, the wood is highly valued for its appearance and robustness. The resins are aromatic. J. silicicola is also listed in the 1991 inventory, but this is now a synonym of a variety of J. virginiana. Uses: landscaping, posts, veneers, winter holiday decorationsAll states east of the Mississippi
CO KS ND NE OK OR SD TX and the five states just west of the river (AR IA LA MN MO)
; slowpH 4.7–8.0Fire:intolerantShade:mediumLarix laricina (tamarack)Adapted to a variety of poor soil conditions, including peatland. The tree has one of the widest distributions among North American conifers. Uses: timber; landscaping, posts, pulpwoodThe eastern Midwest, New England and the Mid-Atlantic
AK MN
; rapidpH 5.5–6.5Fire:intolerantShade:intolerantLarix lyallii (subalpine larch)Distinguishable from western larch by its woolly buds and new growth. In its range, the subalpine larch is often found growing higher on cold mountain slopes than other trees. Uses: landscapingID MT WA
; slowpH 3.9–5.6Fire:intolerantShade:intolerantLarix occidentalis (western larch)The largest larch, and the most important one commercially for its timber. Also a significant source of arabinogalactan, a gum used as a thickening agent. Uses: timber; landscaping, posts, pulpwood, veneersID MT OR UT WA WY
; rapidpH 6.0–7.0Fire:intolerantShade:intolerantPicea breweriana (Brewer spruce)Also called "weeping spruce", for the fringe-like branchlets that hang from the horizontal branches. It is a popular tree for landscaping in Europe. Uses: timber; landscapingCA OR
; slowpH 4.6–7.5Fire:intolerantShade:tolerantPicea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce)Typically contains many small wood knots that lower the grade of the timber. The light colour, long fibres and very low resin content contribute to the quality of its pulpwood. Uses: timber; landscaping, posts, pulpwood, terpenes, veneersthe continental Western states
; slowpH 6.0–8.0Fire:intolerantShade:tolerantPicea glauca (white spruce)Used to build furniture, pallets and musical instruments.
Uses: timber; pulpwoodMD MI NJ NY PA WI and New England
AK ID MN MT SD WY
; slowpH 4.0–8.2Fire:intolerantShade:mediumPicea mariana (black spruce)Mainly harvested for pulpwood; construction uses are limited by the small size (for a spruce). The pale yellow wood is lightweight but strong.
Uses: timber; landscaping, pulpwood, terpenes, winter holiday decorationsIL MI NJ NY PA WI and New England
AK MN
; slowpH 4.7–6.5Fire:intolerantShade:tolerantPicea pungens (blue spruce)The brittle wood has little economic value, but the tree's symmetry and unusual color make it a popular ornamental tree with at least 38 cultivars. Uses: landscaping, winter holiday decorationsMD ME NY PA
AZ CO ID MN NM UT WY
; slowpH 5.5–7.8Fire:intolerantShade:mediumPicea rubens (red spruce)The straight-grained wood is lightweight but strong. It is the most popular choice in many stringed instruments for its resonance. Uses: timber; posts, pulpwood, terpenes, veneersNC TN, the Mid-Atlantic and New England
; moderatepH 4.0–5.8Fire:intolerantShade:tolerantPicea sitchensis (Sitka spruce)The largest spruce. The strong wood is used in light aircraft, masts and turbine blades. It is also used in many musical instruments for its resonance. Uses: timber; pulpwood, terpenesAK CA OR WA
; moderatepH 3.9–5.7Fire:intolerantShade:tolerantPinus albicaulis (whitebark pine)A slow-growing and long-lived pioneer species that helps reduce the movement of soil and snow. The seeds are a source of nutrition for birds, small mammals, black bears and grizzly bears. Uses: no significant economic usesCA ID MT NV OR WA WY
; slowpH 4.8–8.0Fire:intolerantShade:mediumPinus banksiana (jack pine)Sometimes milled for utility poles and railroad ties. Uses: timber; landscaping, posts, pulpwood, terpenesNY PA WV, the eastern Midwest and New England
MN MO ND
; rapidpH 6.0–8.2Fire:intolerantShade:intolerantPinus clausa (sand pine)Grown on plantations for biofuel. Uses: timber; pulpwood, winter holiday decorationsAL FL GA MS NC
TX
; slowpH 4.2–5.5Fire:intolerantShade:mediumPinus contorta (lodgepole pine)Used in paneling, and sometimes milled for utility poles and railroad ties. The trees usually grow rapidly when young and can be harvested economically. Uses: timber; posts, pulpwood, terpenes, veneersSD and the continental Western states
; rapidpH 6.2–7.5Fire:intolerantShade:intolerantPinus echinata (shortleaf pine)One of the most economically important softwood trees in the Southeast, providing mainly pulpwood and construction timber. Uses: timber; landscaping, posts, pulpwood, terpenes, veneers, winter holiday decorationsOH IL, the Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic
MO and the South Central states
; rapidpH 4.0–6.0Fire:tolerantShade:intolerantPinus edulis (twoneedle pinyon)The large, edible seeds are the most valuable product of the tree. Many isolated communities in the southwestern US have relied on the trees for firewood. Uses: landscaping, posts, winter holiday decorationsAZ CA CO NM NV OK TX UT WY