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Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Pseudotsuga menziesii

Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco

Douglas Fir, Blue Douglas Fir

Pinaceae (Pine Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PSME

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

This evergreen grows from 15-300 ft. tall depending on environment and variety. In mesic sites, the conical, columnar tree is usually 75-100 ft. tall. Limbs are straight - the lower drooping, upper ascending. Flattened needles vary in color depending on seed source. Large to very large tree with narrow, pointed crown of slightly drooping branches; 2 distinct geographic varieties: Coast and Rocky Mountain. The Rocky Mt. type is bluish-green; Pacific coast is dark-green; and yellow-green types exist. Pendulous cones are ever-present.

Coast Douglas-fir (var. menziesii), the typical Douglas-fir of the Pacific Coast, is a very large tree with long, dark yellow-green needles and large cones with spreading bracts. Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir (var. glauca), of the Rocky Mountain region, is a medium-sized to large tree with shorter, blue-green needles and smaller cones with bracts bent upward. One of the world's most important timber species, Douglas-fir ranks first in the United States in total volume of timber, in lumber production, and in production of veneer for plywood. It is one of the tallest trees as well and a popular Christmas tree. David Douglas (1798-1834), the Scottish botanical collector, who sent seeds back to Europe in 1827, is commemorated in the common name. The foliage is consumed by grouse and by deer and elk; birds and mammals eat the seeds.

From the Image Gallery

7 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Fruit Type: Cone
Size Notes: Up to about 300 feet tall, often much shorter.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Brown

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr
Bloom Notes: Flowers inconspicuous. Pollen cones yellowish red.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MN , MT , NM , NV , NY , OR , TX , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB
Native Distribution: Mts. of Alt. to w. TX & n. Mex., w. to B.C. & CA
Native Habitat: Moist, well-drained, mountain sites

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Igneous, Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Moist, well-drained, neutral or slightly acid soils.
Conditions Comments: Douglas fir in the Pacific Northwest can reach 300 ft. At the other extreme, some Douglas firs in Big Bend National Park grow only 15 ft. tall. Branches grow to the ground on solitary trees; trees in groves self-prune, revealing the thick bark. The tree fails on dry, poor soils; in crowded spaces; or in high winds. In the proper environment the tree is fast-growing and seedlings are likely to establish.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Pine White
(Neophasia menapia)

Adult Food Source

Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Propagates easily by seed and is easily transplanted when young. Douglas fir does not take well to propagation by cuttings.
Seed Treatment: Seeds may or may not need a 3-6 week cool-moist treatment depending on seed source.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Columnar evergreen for Colorado
July 04, 2008
I am looking for an evergreen 6-8 (or more) feet tall, very columnar; 3 feet spread in diameter, zone 5, full sun, dark green, clayish-OK soil. Thank you so much!
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:			FACU			FACU		FACU	FACU	FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

United States Botanic Garden - Washington, DC
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Pseudotsuga menziesii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pseudotsuga menziesii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pseudotsuga menziesii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-10
Research By: TWC Staff

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