HOW TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PINE, SPRUCE, FIR, and LARCH | CONIFER ID

Here is a six-minute video that will teach you how to ID the four most common coniferous genera easily and simply.
A special thanks to Lori Skulski for allowing me to use her Abies bifolia and and Abies balsamea images in this video.
Image at 4:20 is courtesy of the Onion, and image at 4:37 is courtesy of Home Depot.
All other images are my own.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES:
1. An excellent resource put out by the Canadian government: tidcf.nrcan.gc...
2. Another great website that summarizes conifer ID.
www.growforage...
THE PHYLOGENY OF PINACEAE
www.researchga...
Check out my friend Brittany's website for free high school biology lessons: sites.google.c...

[@devm7812]

I live in Canada but am originally from a tropical country. This video is VERY informative for people like me. Thank you! Not sure why some people have given dislike to this video.

[@dkhowimalivev3633]

They don’t like nature :(

[@OriginalFallofMind]

I didn't think dislikes have been available for 5 years.

[@bovinejonie3745]

Watching larch lose its needles on a windy day is a beautiful thing. Thanks for the info!

[@robertbaker7093]

Excellent video - short, sharp and to the point. Thank you.

[@joeswindon]

Great video - very crisp and precise presentation with no waffle.

[@juneabbey9538]

What an excellent video. Full of useful facts, straight to the point. Top marks!

[@reimeir3267]

Great info! You are a true conifer connoisseur.

[@IsabelRodriguez-nv2ue]

Thank you very much for your video on the differences between all these types of trees. Very well presented and very good information. I learned a lot! Best of luck!

[@blacksunshine7122]

Oh my gosh! I thought they we're all pine trees! Oh man what a day I'm learning a lot. Thank you!

[@pamelah6431]

Yeah, could also be hemlocks, cypress, arborvitae, juniper, etc.

[@imtee4315]

I would like your opinion on something as I'm no expert. So I live in Greece and it's really hot here. My dad has a 50 year old fir tree and it has become really big over the year but unfortunately due to the extreme hit it recently turned brown. all of it's tiny leaves. It's also covered in ivy, which I'm thinking could also be taking part in drying it along with the heat. Do you think there's a way of saving it? Or should we just accept the fact that these are it's last moments?? I'd love your opinion on this:)

[@lilahbethblackhill73]

I never knew!!!! I am officially a momma to a spruce tree!!!! lol! thank you so much!!!!

[@stefan5958Q]

A difference between Spurce and Fir is that the needles of Spurce sting a little when you press the tip of the needle, while Fir needles don't sting when you press on the tip. This has helped me a lot to identify, hopefully it will help you.

[@kennedypoi503]

5:20 Excellent summary, properties characteristics that distinguish them from one another.

[@pamelah6431]

1:43 FYI, you can't be sure a deciduous conifer is a larch. It could also be a dawn redwood or bald cypress.

[@natureboysumanth]

One of the best video to differentiate these all,,

[@nicklasbaran5481]

Thank you!

[@SuperWhatapain]

I agree! Very helpful. Thank you

[@annelliott1384]

I was about to comment the same thing!

[@dkburruss]

Very good delivery of excellent information, thank you!

[@dive2drive314]

Years ago i discovered essential oil and didn't really care for it too much, that is until i got a hold of some black spruce oil and fell in love with it. Found a local shop that also had white spruce, spruce hemlock, siberian fir and 3 types of pine. Been 100% more aware of trees since then.. trying to identify every one that i see, even when driving through the country. Another one i really like is douglas fir (although not technically a true fir). The aroma is like pine with a sort of sweetness to it. Both that one and cedar leaf (thuja), put me right in the forest.

[@debrapaulino918]

🥰

[@Warpreacher]

Yes! AVE! Funny how I've been meaning to look up a video exactly like this for a few months now (only just remembered too when I got back in) And you made the perfect one. My guy.

[@nicklasbaran5481]

That's awesome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@Warpreacher]

@@nicklasbaran5481 Been looking for a spruce for weeks! xD

[@KayBeeStew]

You helped me identify a spruce tree in my yard. Thanks!

[@abbeypuffin]

most triumphant video, dude, exactly what i was looking for ! i live in alberta too! 👍

[@nuttycakke6969]

There is one species of Pinus known as Pinus monophylla, and they have single needles rather than bunched needles like the rest of the Pinus family.

[@cz943]

It's also the primary source of pine nuts for Chumash people

[@zacwulf6987]

This video was extremely well done! Thank you for the most excellently dialled in vid

[@1986Unlimited]

Great video man. Pointed me in the direction I need to be going in.

[@rickk4483]

Great content learned a lot never apologize about where we live its awesome here as you know!

[@cathyjennings5580]

Thanks SO MUCH for your knowledge and time for Us all. 😃 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@zahragozalzadeh9048]

Thanks a lot All important information just summarized in 5 min! 👏

[@TurboLobster]

Oh man, this is exactly the kind of thing I wanted. Awesome video.

[@ev9294]

thanks very much for this very informative video

[@ShonnMorris]

Great video. I live in California where we have all kinds of conifers, no larches though. It would have been interesting to also compare the Douglas Firs which of course are not true firs. We have the Common Douglas Fir and the Big Cone Douglas Fir which is endemic to Southern CA.

[@ratandmonkey2982]

wow, didn't know that! Just looked it up: The Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. The leaves are flat, soft, linear needles 2-4 centimetres (3⁄4-1+1⁄2 in) long, generally resembling those of the firs, occurring singly rather than in fascicles.

[@RonS.-ts8ec]

Larch would be tamarack, there is tamarack in the Sierra Nevada mts. Cal.

[@RoyalRajput108]

Informative video. Great work Nilesh 👴

[@jackiehaus9232]

Thank You for sharing your knowledge....👍

[@not2tees]

Here in Calgary I now know that there are two Spruce trees growing on our west lawn. Your photos of the cones could have been from one of them.

[@JohnWilliams-ig9kv]

Thank you for this very educational video 👍🏼😊

[@DaveSherva]

Excellent information. Very well done.

[@tickedoffsheikh8587]

Great content 👍... I just love these trees and trees in general. Can any of these grow in Guyana 🇬🇾,South America?

[@ruthk9223]

If I make a tea infusion from pine needles in bulk for the whole week and keep it in the fridge or out of the fridge (which is recommended?) Will the nutritional values remain? Do pine wood needles contain surmin? And does surmin also cleanse toxins from vaccines?

[@chriscrossx]

nice job. thanks for this handy guide

[@neurofuzzyricecooker]

great video thank you so much !!!

[@ashleyhurkens7236]

Really informative video, thank you!!!

[@gauravsharma-qt7fr]

Sir, can you suggest a book which differentiate between conifers of India. or the same books referred by you in video will help

[@SoNoFTheMoSt]

I found the best way to distinguish between spruce and fir is the base of the needle on spruce have a brown 'peg' and the base of a fir needle have a green 'pad'

[@Morn2moon]

Thank you, that was VERY helpful🥰

[@bertusvanheerden]

Helpful video, thanks!

[@carterholt4806]

Great vid!

[@lindsaywhitehead7819]

Great video. It helped a lot. You aren't quite correct on one point. Some redwoods are also deciduous conifers. But they are easy to tell apart from the trees you are comparing, I think.

[@MartianArk]

Great video. Thank you

[@susiegreene180]

Absolutel 💯 helpful info. Thank you.

[@MakeenAhmad]

Nice video.... very informative

[@arborsamurai]

Excellent!

[@lindakilpatrick9801]

Thank you! I liked that.

[@rcafmaintainer3723]

Very informative, thank you

[@marcellasalmen4371]

Great job

[@mee6703]

thank you very much.

[@padd6007]

Great video man

[@MrMonero]

What a good video. Is larch the best to use for woodworking projects? As far as I am aware larch is the most suited for outdoor stuff as it is the most water and rot resistant without needing to be treated. I have been told that both cedar and larch are the two to use in these instances whereas pine, spruce and fir are softer and less rot resistant and will need treating or painting to protect them if being used for outdoor purposes. Is this correct?

[@RonS.-ts8ec]

Yes cedar n tamarack(larch) are harder wood than the pines firs. Tamarack is good fireplace wood also

[@mariachristina9029]

Excellent video. Thank you 💕

[@theunknowncanadian2592]

If you live is Edmonton just wondering do you live in tamarack edmonton?

[@wanderer6556]

Thanks for the info.

[@HNSthejypod]

Here in california we have a species of pine that only has 1 needle per fasciscle, pinus monophylla

[@klaytonpeterson]

Excellent...Thank you

[@dawnarmstrong4441]

Thank you for the information :-)

[@MRJUGGERNAUTSILLz]

but do all the cones have edible nuts like the pine cone?

[@charbak9071]

I love to see all the four but two of them are seen in the Himalayan range.

[@hamidahmed1687]

Suggest some book related to anatomical vartions inleaf please

[@hamidahmed1687]

Sir this is beauty

[@vanhouten64]

FIR cones point upwards towards the FIRmament

[@nickjesse2922]

Are larch trees found in the Pacific northwest?

[@nicklasbaran5481]

Yes. Western larch (Larix occidentalis) is found in the forests of the Pacific northwest, both on the Canadian and US side of the border.

[@YourVeggieGuru]

I like it! Very informative. Ever try to harvest pine nuts whilst sojourning in forests or foothills of mountain ranges? Also, I think I've been the victim of a drive by sprucing. My last vehicle was parked near a spruce tree one time and as I drove it out of that parking spot, I notice a clear but thick substance fall smack on the windshield. Urghhh...I remember that being such a pain to clean. Any tips in that regard?

[@jaxinco]

Goo Gone might work on pine sap.

[@nileshnath541]

Jai ho Sadhu bhai

[@ducksongfans]

I can identify between s few species a of pine, eastern white pine, loblolly pine, shortleaf pine and longleaf pine

[@lynnlambert3099]

I found a cone by a tree I feel is a Fir. It is really an odd cone. Can you give me a picture of different fir cones?

[@mikec8529]

you need to make more videos. You have talent, don't waste it.

[@nicklasbaran5481]

Thank you! One day I aim to continue! Just completing my Master's degree at the moment which has been taking up most of my time.

[@cityofjoy8830]

Wow 👏 👌

[@iliaskillmister142]

Thanks man very helpful

[@Ennsey]

Thanks

[@phoenixfresh8681]

Thanks!

[@cedarpoplar]

All I knew is that some of them were bad to put in our fire stove, and others made enough smoke inside to suffocate every one in winter cold. But there were those that had gas in them?? They burned fast but clean. They kept the place warm. Some would even last all night.

[@1upPaintingAB]

Almost time for some spruce tip tea and salad.

[@2020Ibrahim]

Thank u spike protein got me here

[@Anna.Bystrik]

Are they all not of the pine family? What the video calls a pine, is it a conifer?

[@AbhinavSyam-k4s]

I love pines

[@estebanmainguylemieux3160]

Thx for vid

[@stevensteven1624]

Umm, Sorry but pines can have between 1 to 7 needles per bundle. But only one variety (Single-leaf Pinyon) has single needles. Also 99% of pines are in 2s, 3s, or 5s.

[@mitchell4217]

Wow, just looked up those books. 700-900 dollars

[@marikodolidze2922]

😘😘😘😘😘😘😘

[@tomato1040]

IN THE=mc2 LARCH MOUNT, THE FIR PINES 4 THE=mc2 TRUE=mc2 TREE=mc2 OF LIFE=mc2 IN AN EMERALD FOREST, LIKE=mc2 BRUCE=mc2 & HIS SISTER, SPRUCE=mc2 LEE=mc2 GLEE=mc2!

[@davidburch3863]

Hemlock?

[@fCLEF007]

Single leaf Pinyon pines have one needle.

[@justayoutuber1906]

I like a Canadian accent

[@00Mandy00]

Many use “pine” as a generic, like they might call all carbonated drinks “coke”. Not that plant blindness isn’t a big problem.

[@Englewood_guy]

How about Hemlock?? That's the one I have a hard time with.

[@nickking1510]

No No poison

[@georgew2432]

A good way to distinguish fir and spruce is to take the first letter of each ie: F for Fir which is Flat and does not roll between your fingers and Spruce which is Square (you can roll it between your thumb and finger) Also the Larch (Hackmatack, Tamarack) is the only evergreen/conifer to lose its needles in the winter

[@breewarminski3804]

Hello

[@satisfying.vidios.0111]

I have pinus

[@ZIDANSHAFEER]

I wish I can have pine cones

[@mihyutyturgvj9291]

١١

[@jakubjilek7499]

Every kindergartener knows this

[@dieselrigs1]

Douglas Fir cones looks like they have a rats tail

[@clark7042]

At 2:41 the cones are mislabeled.

[@christiangrant6837]

Hi Burriville residents! 🫡🕯️🌭⚔️😝

[@lindawinn2568]

Excellent video. Many thanks.