If similar look includes pines and junipers then there will be native species and some east Asian species that will grow there. Even as far south as central Florida (USDA 9) the land is mostly treed by conifers where natural vegetation is still present (except for damp sites dominated by sweet gums, maples etc. instead of cypresses, which are present here and there, so that even many wet places have stands of conifers - just not evergreen ones).

I mention this because I was there recently, and otherwise one might think an area with a planted landscape full of palms etc. wasn't conifer country - if there are conifers everywhere down there, you can certainly grow them in Alabama.

Here is a link that might be useful: Trees of Alabama and the Southeast - Gymnosperms

This post was edited by bboy on Fri, May 2, 14 at 16:23

Arizona Cypress should be able to grow there, but it must be planted in a very well-drained location. (assuming you don't live on the coast). It will have a gray-green-blue color and is a mountain tree from the southwest and is Z7-9.
Loblolly looks a lot like Ponderosa Pine to me.
Eastern Red Cedar looks a lot like Rocky Mountain Juniper.
Bald Cypress has a sort of Coastal Red Wood / Sequoia look except it is deciduous.
Generally the combination heat and humidity of the south is a killer for western species. Where are you in Alabama?
I have seen some nice conifers planted in Huntsville that may have even included firs. Hopefully someone from there will chime in.

Check out the link from UAH. Most will be an experimental for you. There are Sequoias being planted, Camillia Forest has one they sell but I think they are out right now. The catalog says theirs has grown to 20ft in ten years. Also the links below, notice the last paragraph in the first one. And the second is the redwood in
Abbeville SC.
http://southeastgarden.com/sequoia.html
http://www.knowitall.org/sandlapper/Summer-2005/PDF/Redwood.pdf

Now see this: a lady said she had one in Atlanta so I pulled myself down the street in Google and think I found it. Copy and paste:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=1305+Merry+Lane,+atlanta+ga&hl=en&ll=33.817936,-84.317596&spn=0.000474,0.000363&sll=33.817905,-84.317611&layer=c&cbp=13,167.48,,0,-15.34&cbll=33.817936,-84.317596&hnear=1305+Merry+Ln+NE,+Atlanta,+Georgia+30329&t=h&z=21&panoid=7pLTPtBVS-xvOF6xg6h5TQ

And lastly, here is an article from John M. Ruter about conifers in the south.
http://www.amerinursery.com/article-7697.aspx

Here is a link that might be useful: UAH Campus Trees

This post was edited by fairfield8619 on Sat, May 3, 14 at 15:59

Thank you so much! This helps a ton. I'm located in Birmingham if that makes any difference. I saw a dawn redwood today in Hoover that is doing really well. Also bought a bald cypress today, which is one of my favorite trees.

The tree in atlanta looks great. I might have to drive over there one day to look at it. Definitely going to check out UAH soon.

This post was edited by RandyPoffo on Sat, May 3, 14 at 16:47

Dawn redwood and bald cypress are probably foolproof for the south although not the typical needle leafed conifers. You might also try cedrus, it seems to do well also and more like the northern trees. The true redwoods are pretty cheap and worth trying, obviously they can grow in Atlanta and other places in the deep south which suprises me.

Ohhhh the cedrus looks very nice. http://www.pfaf.org/Admin/PlantImages/CedrusDeodara.jpg

Thanks for the tip. I will add it to my list!