Naturally Speaking: Evergreens

By: 
Jerry Davis

Photo by Jerry Davis

It’s the season for evergreens, so let’s look at the botanical meaning of the term and who fits the definition.

Most generally we’re talking leaves, needles in the case of pines, spruces and firs.

At least some of the leaves remain green and hanging more than a year, so the tree is never bare of leaves. Other plants that are evergreen have leaves that die soon after new leaves develop in spring.

The better the leaves are at conserving water, the longer they remain green on a cut tree. Some of the fir species win this category, including Fraser and balsam firs.