Evergreen trees are the most common type of tree that you will find in the Taiga biome. It is very common to see miles and miles of the same species of tree because not many different types of trees can survive the harsh winters of the Taiga. The most popular evergreens found here include spruce, hemlock, and fir trees. Because these trees have needles that last year round, they do not have to regrow in the spring. However, evergreens branches run the risk of breaking as a result of heavy snow fall.
There are certain species of broadleaf trees that can survive the climate of the Taiga---birch, poplar and aspen trees being the most common. These trees flourish during the warm summers and shed their leaves during the winter months. This shedding of leaves allows them to conserve energy during the winter, thus ensuring their success in such a harsh climate. However, they do have to put energy into regrowing their leaves each spring.
Lichen is a unique type of plant that consists of fungus and alga cells that live together to form one species of plant. Lichens are a very hardy plant---they are able to sustain all types of climates. Lichen is able to survive in the Taiga biome because of its ability to tolerate extreme cold conditions. Although lichen might look like mosses, they are very genetically different. Lichen, unlike moss does not contain chlorophyll.
Another plant that is able to sustain the climate of the Taiga is moss. Moss, unlike lichen, does contain chlorophyll. Peat moss is one of the more common mosses that can be found in the Taiga biome, specifically in parts of northern Canada. This type of moss grows mainly during the summer months and can reach a height of up to 50 centimeters (about 1 1/2 feet). Peat moss and other types of moss can be found covering the forest floor of the Taiga, between tightly packed trees. Moss thrives in the Taiga because, like lichen, it is able to sustain conditions below freezing.
