How do you tell fir, pine, and spruce trees apart?

Question

Accepted Answer

The best way to tell the difference between these trees is by their cones and needles:

Species	Needles	Cones
Balsam fir	Needles are 1–1.5 in (2.54–3.81 cm) long, flat, and arranged in pairs opposite each other	Upright, cylindrical, and 2–4 in (5–10 cm) long
Blue spruce	Needles are roughly 1 in (2.54 cm) long, grow from all sides of the branch, are silvery blue in color, and are very stiff and prickly	3.5 in (8.89 cm) long
Douglas fir	Needles are 1–1.5 in (2.54–3.81 cm) long, occur singularly, and are very soft	Cone scales have bristles that stick out
Fraser fir	Similar to Balsam fir, but needles are smaller and more rounded	Upright, 1.6–2.4 inches (4–6 cm) long
Scotch pine	Two needles in each bundle; needles are stiff, yellow green, and 1.5–3 in (3.81–7.62 cm) long	2–5 in (5–12.7 cm) long
White pine	Five needles in each bundle; needles are soft and 3–5 in (7.62–12.7 cm) long	4–8 in (10–20.3 cm) long
White spruce	Dark-green needles are rigid but not prickly; needles grow from all sides of the twig and are less than an inch (2.54 cm) long	1–2.5 in (2.54–6.35 cm) long and hang downward

Plant Diversity