Growth resilience of conifer species decreases with early, long‐lasting and intense droughts but cannot be explained by hydraulic traits

Abstract Drought events may reduce growth and survival of conifer trees. The effects the intensity timing drought on resilience, including reductions during recovery after drought, remain, however, highly uncertain. Growth resilience 20 species to 11 dry years was compared in a common garden experiment. We assessed (a) relationships among resistance, (b) impacts different dimensions (intensity, onset length) resistance (c) underlying mechanisms terms potential hydraulic traits. Droughts led 22% reduction stem for 85% species, but most (85%) were resilient due high recovery. decreased with an early (significant 55% species), longer‐lasting (35%) intense droughts (60%). While fast‐growing slow‐growing similar recovery, more resilient. Unexpectedly, could not be explained by traits, possibly because grew poor sandy soils acclimated large safety margins. Synthesis . Our study shows that mild maritime climate almost all are putative traits less important here resilience. It also highlights importance addressing multiple is, timing, duration severity, predict responses change.