
- BGG rank
- BGG #403
- BGG rating
- 7.7
The King's Dilemma
- 3–5 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2019

Rules assistance for Evergreen: Pines and Cacti
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Evergreen: Pines and Cacti is an expansion for Evergreen released in 2023 for 1–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Hjalmar Hach and its main mechanics are End Game Bonuses, Bias, and Open Drafting.
Evergreen: Pines and Cacti is a set of two modular expansions for Evergreen that introduces two new kinds of plants that interact with light and shadow in interesting ways. Each modular expansion introduces a new power, and the game uses exactly six powers, so remove one power from play for each expansion module you add. PINES Small pines long for the kiss of sunlight, so they spontaneously grow into big pines when they are in shadow at the end of a season. CACTI Cacti can grow very quickly, but they need a lot of light to survive. Make sure they are not in shadow at the end of a season or they will die!
Evergreen: Pines and Cacti supports 1–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Evergreen: Pines and Cacti is 45 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Evergreen: Pines and Cacti for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Evergreen: Pines and Cacti has a complexity rating of 2.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Evergreen: Pines and Cacti belongs to these categories: Puzzle and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are End Game Bonuses, Bias, and Open Drafting. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Evergreen: Pines and Cacti are: Hjalmar Hach. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Evergreen: Pines and Cacti as an expansion for Evergreen. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Evergreen to use it. Check that your edition of Evergreen is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.