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Pseudotsuga menziesii (Blue douglas fir)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco

Blue Douglas fir, Douglas-fir

Pinaceae (Pine Family)

Synonyms: Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii, Pseudotsuga taxifolia

USDA Symbol: psme

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This evergreen grows from 15-150 ft. tall depending on environment. 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 worlds 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

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Brown
Size Class: 12-36 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Time: Apr

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

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 150 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)

Pseudotsuga menziesii is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Pine White
(Neophasia menapia)

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 Collection: Not Available
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

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

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 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

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

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: 2008-04-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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