Taiga trees have many adaptations for surviving harsh winters, a short growing season, and nutrient-poor soil. Their conical shapes allow snow to slip off easily, without weighing down and breaking branches. Their needle-shaped leaves have waxy, protective coatings to lock in moisture. Plus, the needles don’t all fall off in autumn. Keeping the leaves through the winter means taiga trees don’t need to use energy to grow an entire set of new leaves each spring and they can capture energy from the sun throughout the year. (Pi_Lens/ Shutterstock) Read More