Douglas-fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii · Coniferous Evergreen
Plant Family
Pinaceae
Tree Category
Forest Tree, Softwood Timber, Large Shade Tree
Variety / Cultivar
v. menziesii (Coast Douglas-fir)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4 through 6 (Interior variety) and 7 through 9 (Coast variety).
About This Tree
A massive, long-lived conifer with a pyramidal shape in youth, maturing into a cylindrical form with a flat top. Lower branches often droop then curve upward. Distinguished by its thick, fire-resistant bark and unique three-lobed cone bracts.
Leaf Characteristics
Single, flat needles (1 inch long) with blunt tips, arranged spirally around the twig. Color is dark green to blue-green with two white stomatal bands on the underside. When crushed, they smell like citrus or pine needles.
Bark Characteristics
Smooth and gray with resin blisters on young trees; becomes very thick, deeply furrowed, and corky with reddish-brown ridges and dark furrows on mature specimens.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Western North America (British Columbia to California)
Growing Season
Year-round evergreen foliage; new needle growth in spring (April-May); cones mature by late summer/early autumn.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Partial Sun; prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soils; moderately drought tolerant once established but sensitive to extreme heat and dry air.
Mature Size
70-200+ feet height, 12-25 feet spread; fast growth rate; can live 500 to 1,000 years.
Special Characteristics
Worlds leading timber producer; high strength-to-weight ratio; culturally significant to Pacific Northwest tribes; distinguished by unique cones with 'mousetail' bracts emerging from scales.
Wildlife & Ecology
Critical habitat for Northern Spotted Owls; seeds provide food for Douglas squirrels, chipmunks, and many birds like crossbills and siskins; foliage is a food source for caterpillars of various moths.