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Somatic embryogenesis (SE), the most promising technology to multiply high-value coniferous trees from advanced breeding and genetic engineering programs, is expected to play an important role in increasing productivity, sustainability, and uniformity of future forests in the United States. For commercial use, SE technology must work with a variety of genetically diverse trees. Initiation in loblolly pine (LP; Pinus taeda L.), our main focus species, is often recalcitrant for desirable genotypes. Initiation of LP, slash pine (SP; Pinus elliottii), Douglas-fir (DF; Pseudotsuga menziesii), and Norway spruce (NS; Picea abies) were improved through the use of paclobutrazol, a gibberellin synthesis inhibitor. Paclobutrazol was effective at concentrations ranging from 0.25 mg/l to 3.0 mg/l (0.85-10.2 microM) and optimal in LP at 1.0 mg/l. Using control media (no paclobutrazol) and 0.33-1.0 mg/l paclobutrazol, initiation percentages in LP, SP, DF, and NS were improved from 37.7% to 44.2% (across experiments), 19.3% to 28.5%, 16.9% to 23.7%, and 38.8% to 48.5%, respectively. Other gibberellin inhibitors such as flurprimidol, chlormequat-Cl, and daminozide also caused statistically significant increases in LP initiation when added to the medium at concentrations of 0.34, 10.0, and 1.0 microM, respectively. No detrimental effects on subsequent embryo development were observed when 29 new initiations from medium without GA inhibitor and 28 new initiations from medium containing paclobutrazol were tracked through culture capture, liquid culture establishment, cotyledonary embryo development, and germination.