Needled evergreens, often known as narrow-leaved evergreens or conifers, are planted primarily because of their evergreen foliage. Needled evergreens come in many shapes and sizes.
Conifers range in size from prostrate plants growing only a few inches tall to large trees.
Shapes include flat, groundcover types, horizontal spreaders, upright pyramidal forms, and even weeping and contorted shapes. Poorly drained soil, planting too deeply and winter drying are the most common causes of damage or death of needled evergreens. Most are killed easily by water standing at their roots. They must be planted in well-drained soil. A raised bed may be the solution for planting on excessively wet sites.