

Pine Trees: A Field Guide. Pine trees are distinct from fir and spruce, though they are all members of the Pinaceae family, better known as conifer.
Pine trees are distinct from fir and spruce, though they are all members of the Pinaceae family, better known as conifers.
There are more than a hundred varieties of the evergreen, resinous pine trees. Included in this family group is the hard-living bristlecone pine, with a reputation for extreme longevity (around 5,000 years), in high altitude and aridity. Geriatric specimens battle on at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, in eastern California. In gardens, they cast a light shade and look good as part of a collection.
Lookalike fir and spruce trees do have some key differences that will help you identify them. To determine whether you’re looking at a pine tree or one of its cousins, examine the needle-shaped leaves. If they are attached to a branch in clusters of two or more, it’s a pine tree. (Fir and spruce needles are attached singly at their bases.) Fir needles are flat and spruce needles have four distinct edges; to make the ID, roll a needle between your fingers; fir needles won’t roll.