• The majority of evergreen trees that grow in the Deep South in the United States are species of pines. Conifers such as spruces, redwoods and fir trees, all of which retain their needles year-round, are absent from this region, preferring much cooler climates in which to grow. However, some trees in the South other than pines display evergreen characteristics.
  
  

Pond Pine

• The pond pine (Pinus serotina), also called a march pine or a Pocosin pine, is an evergreen of the South that grows from 40 to 70 feet tall, according to the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees." Pond pines are found in swamps, shallow ponds and wet depressions from northern Florida to Virginia. The pond pine has yellowish-green needles that grow to 7 inches long and exist in bundles of twos and threes on branches. The pine cones of the Pond pine are oval, about 2.5 inches long and stay on limbs for several years before opening. Forest fires cause the cones to open and release seeds, repopulating a burnt-out area with seedlings. The Native American word "Pocosin," as the tree is sometimes referred to, translates to "pond" or "bog."
  
  

Live Oak

• The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences website states that the live oak (Quercus virginiana), an evergreen type of oak species, is Georgia's state tree and a symbol of the South that depicts "strength." Live oak leaves feel leathery on the top side, soft on the bottom and remain on the tree through winter, keeping it evergreen. The oblong leaves fall in the spring. Live oaks produce inch-long acorns shaped like footballs, and they are wonderful shade trees. The live oak adorns landscapes and streets through much of the South, growing in the wild in pure stands or with other hardwood types. Live oaks grow from Virginia to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma. The tree grows up to 85 feet tall and has a broad spreading crown of sometimes-massive branches.
  
  

Eastern Redcedar

• The eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) grows in 37 states in the eastern two-thirds of the county, including Southern states Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina. Few trees had more uses to the colonists, who employed the wood to make cedar chests, fencepost, logs for building, cabinets and furniture. The aromatic tree supplied cedar oil for medicinal purposes from its leaves and wood. The eastern redcedar grows to 50 feet, possessing a shape like a pyramid and thick, low-growing branches. The species grows in moist or dry environments in all kinds of soils, making it the perfect ornamental. Eastern redcedar has leaves that resemble scales; the foliage is dark green. The red-brown bark is thin and easily strips away in long, thin shreds. The cone looks like a waxy, fleshy blueberry, and wildlife will eat it during the winter months.