TreeRM

Douglas-fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii 路 Pinaceae 路 also Douglas fir, Oregon pine

The signature conifer of the Pacific Northwest and Oregon's state tree: narrow and pyramidal when young, becoming a tall column with deeply furrowed red-brown bark and branches only in the upper crown. Soft flat needles are fragrant when crushed and the hanging cones have three-pointed bracts peeking out like mouse tails. In yards it is a big, long-lived tree for large lots, parks and screens; Portland lists it as an approved street tree for the widest planting strips.

ConiferMedium growthFull sunModerate water
Douglas-fir
Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where it stands

Native

  • 馃嚚馃嚘 AB, Canada 路 Rocky Mountain variety.source
  • 馃嚚馃嚘 BC, Canadasource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 AZ, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 CA, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 CO, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 ID, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 MT, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 NM, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 NV, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 OR, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 TX, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 UT, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 WA, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 WY, United Statessource

Recommended

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 Portland, OR, United States 路 On Portland's approved street tree list for planting strips 8.5 ft and wider, marked native; needs ample growing space.source

Care

Plant in full sun in deep, well-drained soil and water consistently for the first few years; it does not tolerate drought, heat or humid summers. Prune only dead or hazardous limbs. Douglas-fir beetle, bark beetles, aphids, needle casts and root rots are the main problems; give it room, since it drops lower limbs and cones.

Benefits

ShadeWildlifeBirdsWindbreakLong livedStores carbon well

Good for

parksYard shadeScreeningTimberReforestationStreet tree

Watch out for

Heavy litterLarge roots