Hardy conifer plants
Conifers are cone-bearing, woody seed plants, mostly trees and mostly evergreen, characterised by their attractive conical shape. They’re traditionally thought of as having a single, straight trunk and side branches but actually come in a huge range of shapes and sizes, ranging from large trees to small low-growing ground cover plants. Many conifers have long, thin leaves, often with a needle-like appearance, whereas others have broad, flat, strap-shaped foliage. Some are better at coping with cold, harsh and exposed conditions than others. We’ve handpicked certain conifers that are best able to cope with bitterly cold conditions, strong drying winds and salt laden air on this page. Juniper, Taxus and Thuja are some of the most reliable conifers for more challenging conditions and there is a variety of foliage colours to choose from spanning greens, blues, yellows and golds, sometimes varying according to the season. They’re perfect for adding colour and shape to the garden, relatively easy to care for and their cones and shelter help attract a variety of birds to your garden.