1. Leaves all needle-like, not tightly clasping the stem; bark rarely stringy and fibrous (Pines, Spruces, Firs)

2. Needles fastened together in bundles of 2-5, or borne in large clusters on short spur shoots (in new needles are attached individually)

3 Needles in bundles of 2-5, distinctive spur shoots absent………Pinus (Pines)

3'. Needles in clusters on short spur shoots, usually more than 5 needles per spur shoot ……. Larix (Larches or tamaracks)

2’. Needles all separate, attached individually to the branch

4. Shrubs; cones fleshy and berry-like, blue or red

5. Needles attached in whorls of 3, narrow and sharp-pointed, fine white line on underside of needles …..….Juniperus (Juniper)

5'. Needles attached to the stem individually, not whorled in groups of three; base of needle runs down stem (decurrent), approximately 2.5 cm long, dark green above, yellowish below; cone red cup-like berry that surrounds a single dark-colored seed; native & cultivated …….Taxus (Yew)

4'. Trees; cones woody

6. Needles angled in cross-section allowing them to be easily rolled between the fingers; small woody stumps remain on twig when needle is removed, twig without needles is rough to the touch…………Picea (Spruces)

6'. Needles flat, do not roll between the fingers; do not leave a prominent raised woody stump on the twig when removed

7'. Needles and cones longer than 1.5 cm

8. Buds pointed, dry and not resinous; needles when removed leave a small raised scar, needles come off around twig like a bottle brush; cone pendant, woody, doesn't disintegrate when mature, a 3-pronged bract sticks out of the cone beneath each scale; native to western US, cultivated in our area…….Pseudotsuga menzesii (Douglas fir)

8'. Buds rounded, resinous; needles when removed leave a flat or slightly sunken round scar in twig, needles very fragrant, needles arranged in more or less a single plane; cone upright, disintegrates on maturity…..Abies (Firs)

7. Needles short, less than 1.5 cm long, underside silvery, with a short petiole; tip of mature trees flexible, bends in an arc like a flag; cones small, less than 2 cm long, terminal; native to SE Minnesota in moist shaded areas, cultivated and barely hardy in our area..…Tsuga canadensis (Hemlock)

1'. Leaves like overlapping shingles that tightly clasp the stem making it appear that the stem is green because the true stem is not visible; (needle-like leaves may also be present), the scaly-like leaves paired; bark often stringy and fibrous (junipers, arborvitae)

9. Foliage fan-like, flattened; leaves all scale-like; cone small (about 1 cm) and woody; native, prefers moist, cool, areas; various cultivars in landscape situations ……Thuja occidentalis (White cedar, Arborvitae)

9'. Foliage not fan-like nor flattened, on thread-like branches; some leaves may be needle-like; cone berry-like, blue; native and cultivated …….Juniperus (Junipers)

1. Needles 2.5 - 8 cm long; blue-green in color; cultivated……….A. concolor (White fir)

1'. Needles less than 2.5 cm long; darker green, silvery below

2. Needles conspicuously notched at tip; needles appear densely distributed on twig; bracts extend past the cone scales, curved back; cultivated…..A. fraseri (Fraser fir)

2. Needles not conspicuously notched at tip; needles less densely distributed on twig; bracts rarely extend past cone scales, not recurved; native…..A. balsamea (Balsam fir)

1. Leaves in pairs (opposite); trees or shrubs; cones terminal (at the end of the stem)

2. Tree (and sometime upright shrubs); leaves of two types - juvenile needles are 5-7 mm, adult leaves are scale-like; seeds 1 or 2; native…..J. virginiana (Eastern red cedar)

2'. Shrub, low-growing creeping along ground; leaves mostly needle-like; seeds 3-5; cultivated ……..J. horizontalis (Creeping juniper)

1'. Leaves in threes (whorled), joined at base; shrub, creeping; cones axillary (along sides of stem); native……J. communis (Common juniper)

1. Cones 10-18 scales; leaves 10-25 mm, soft; native, bogs…….L. laricina (Tamarack)

1'. Cones with 20+ scales; cultivated …..L. decidua (European larch)

1. Needles 2.5 cm or longer

2. Needles sharp-tipped, painful to the touch; bluish; cones 3 inches long, scales with ragged margins; cultivated ….. P. pungens (Colorado blue spruce)

2'. Needles not painful to touch; green; young twigs orange with fine, cobweb-like hairs; branches pendulous; cones 5 inches long, resinous; cultivated……P. abies (Norway spruce)

1'. Needles less than 2.5 cm, 0.8 - 2.0 cm long

3. Twigs and bud scales hairless; needles 8-18 mm; buds rounded; cones 3.5 - 5 cm, scales with smooth margin….P. glauca (White spruce)

3'. Twigs and bud scales hairy; needles typically shorter, 6-18 mm long; buds rounded; cones 1.5-3.5 cm, purple when young; narrow, steeple-like trees; bogs; native…..P. mariana (Black spruce)

1. Needles in bundles of five ………P. strobus (White pine)

1'. Needles in bundles of 2-3

1. Needles not sharply pointed; native…..T. canadensis (American yew)

1'. Needles acuminate, tapering quickly to a sharp point; cultivated ….T. cuspidata (Japanese yew)