Needle-like leaves:

- Long, slender, and pointed

- Arranged singly on the stem or in clusters of two or more

- Examples of trees with needle-like leaves: pine, fir, spruce, hemlock

Scale-like leaves:

- Small, flat, and overlapping

- Arranged in a spiral pattern around the stem

- Examples of trees with scale-like leaves: juniper, cypress, arborvitae

In contrast to softwood leaves, hardwood leaves are typically broad and flat. They are also typically arranged alternately on the stem, with one leaf at each node. Some common examples of trees with hardwood leaves include oak, maple, birch, and ash.