What is the most diverse group of gymnosperms?

The most diverse group of gymnosperms is conifers. This group includes familiar trees such as pines, firs, spruces, cedars, cypresses, junipers, and redwoods.

Gymnosperms are seed-producing plants whose seeds are not enclosed inside fruits. Conifers are especially successful because many tolerate cold, drought, poor soils, and seasonal climates. Most are evergreen and use cones to protect and disperse their seeds, although cone shapes vary greatly between species.

Conifers contain roughly 600–630 living species, making them far more numerous than cycads, ginkgo, or gnetophytes. Cycads are the next-largest major group, while ginkgo is represented today by only one living species, Ginkgo biloba. A common mix-up is confusing the most diverse gymnosperm group with flowering plants, or angiosperms, which are vastly more diverse overall.