Trees that drop their leaves each autumn are called 'deciduous', from the Latin for 'to fall'. Alternative names for deciduous trees are broadleaves or hardwoods. Some of the more common species are oak, poplar, beech, apple and chestnut.
Coniferous trees have small, waxy and usually narrow leaves (needles or flat scales). 'Coniferous' means that it is a cone-bearing tree. The most common conifers are spruces, pines and firs. Alternative names used for coniferous trees are evergreens, softwoods and (appropriately enough) conifers. However, the name evergreen is not really a good synonym. Laurel, acacia and eucalyptus are also evergreens, and although not deciduous, they are not cone-bearing trees (they also definitely have leaves rather than needles).
Deciduous and coniferous sound like two distinct types of tree, and generally they are, but there are a few oddities. The larch is a deciduous conifer: it drops its needles every year in the autumn.
Coniferous trees have small, waxy and usually narrow leaves (needles or flat scales). 'Coniferous' means that it is a cone-bearing tree. The most common conifers are spruces, pines and firs. Alternative names used for coniferous trees are evergreens, softwoods and (appropriately enough) conifers. However, the name evergreen is not really a good synonym. Laurel, acacia and eucalyptus are also evergreens, and although not deciduous, they are not cone-bearing trees (they also definitely have leaves rather than needles).
Deciduous and coniferous sound like two distinct types of tree, and generally they are, but there are a few oddities. The larch is a deciduous conifer: it drops its needles every year in the autumn.