It’s that special time of year when we make space for the Christmas tree, the centerpiece of many family holiday traditions. Whether you prefer pine, fir, spruce or cedar, your tree is an evergreen conifer.
Conifers bear cones rather than flowers. Cones are, of course, the reproductive part of the tree. Pollen from the small male cones is carried by the wind to the larger female ones, where seeds are produced.
Conifers’ foliage is needle shaped or scale-like. These trees dominate the northern forest biome. Their conical shape and drooping limbs shed snow.
Many popular Christmas trees are native to colder areas of North America and are not happy growing here. That being said, there are plenty of pine species that are well adapted to Appalachia and the Southeast. Though shade tolerant, to thrive pines must have a sunny, well-drained site. The loblolly pine is more tolerant of wet sites than most while longleaf pines like dry sandy sites. Plant a pine as you would any other tree. (A tree-planting guide can be found in my Oct. 21, 2017, column, available in The Planet's archives, or take a shortcut by clicking on the photo of my smiling face, below.)
Today there are about 550 species of conifers. The oldest living tree on the planet is a bristlecone pine, Pinus longaeva, found in the White Mountains of California. It is believed to be 5,068 years old!
The tallest trees on earth are also in the Golden State. General Sherman, a giant sequoia, is 275 feet tall and over 2,000 years old. This tree is considered the tallest single-stem tree and can be seen in Sequoia National Park. Hyperion, a coastal redwood, is taller at 379 feet. It is in a remote area of Redwood National Park.
Conifers evolved millions of years ago and were the dominant land plants during the Mesozoic era. They were a major food source for plant-eating dinosaurs. Their resin offered some protection from insects and fungi. We call the fossilized resin amber.
From very ancient times, evergreen trees have been closely associated with the winter solstice as a symbol of immortality. Over time their significance has changed to reflect varying customs and beliefs. Today the Christmas tree remains a beloved part of our celebrations.
Master gardener Ann Bartlett amuses herself over the long, cold winters by arranging her grandson's toy dinosaurs around a tiny Christmas tree in homage to ancient times; but thus far has neglected to furnish photographs. Email her at arose56@hamilton.net.
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