Most conifers are evergreen; however, species such as dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), golden larch (Pseudolarix amabilis), bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), and all species of larch (Larix spp.) are deciduous, which means that they lose their needles each fall and develop new ones each spring. Golden larch and dawn redwood are particularly striking in fall, when their needles turn color before falling.

True cedars (Cedrus spp.) and larches (Larix spp.) bear short needles arranged in clusters or whorls. Pines (Pinus spp.) have needles arranged in fascicles: small bundles of two, three, or five needles bound together at the base by a sheath. The rest of the needle-leaved evergreens have single needles set individually along the twig or branchlet.

Spruce (Picea spp.) needles are sharp-tipped, set singly on stout twigs in spiral lines, with each needle sitting on a woody peg that protrudes from the twig. Firs (Abies spp.) bear blunt-tipped needles that lack woody pegs and often appear to be arranged in two ranks along the stem. Hemlock (Tsuga spp.) needles are short, blunt-tipped, and flat, and the undersides of needles display two distinct white lines, which are actually stomates (leaf pores).

The cones of pine, spruce, and hemlock are pendulous (hanging downward). In contrast, cones of fir and cedar are held erect on the branches and shatter when mature.