There is not a large variety of plants in the Boreal Forest, as the most dominant plant are trees (Coniferous). Important conifer types include firs, pine, spruces, hemlocks, and larches. All of these tree types have pinecones of one sort or another. Some cones do not open until there has been a fire, but that is not the case for all conifers.
Many plant species are found in the the Boreal Forest, but coniferous trees are the main plant form. The trees shed snow easily, and they retain their needles through the winter. The needles are well-adapted, with thick waxy coatings and a small surface area, to resist cold conditions and minimize water loss, an important consideration even in the swampy forest where water may be frozen much of the year. Together, these adaptations mean that even in cool conditions, if the temperature rises above freezing during the day photosynthesis can proceed. Broadleaf plants usually lose their leaves at the onset of freezing conditions in the fall and will not regrow them until most of the danger of frost has passed.