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Douglas fir

Named after David Douglas who introduced the tree to Europe it is renowned in its natural habitat in America as one of the tallest trees, reaching heights of 120m.

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Oregon Pine in the timber trade coastal Douglas fir green Douglas fir
Generic name	Fir
Latin name	Pseudotsuga menziesii
Family name	Pine
Latin family name	Pinaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a conifer
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	No, it is evergreen

Species description:

Average height	20-55m

Leaf

Description	The needles are flattened, soft, flexible and distributed around the twig (rather than on one side etc.) If a needle is pulled off a twig it has a characteristic sucker shaped base. The underneath of the needle has white-green stripes.
Shape	Needle
Size	Up to 3cm
Colour	Green
Leaf bud	The leaf buds are long and slender looking a little like beech buds
Leaf stalk	No stalk

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Other
Fruit colour	Brown
Type of seed body	Cone
Seeds dispersed by	Wind

Bark and twig

Bark description	Grey and smooth when young, later turning grey-purple with large orange fissures
Twig Description	Grey brown in colour, slender and covered with fine hair

What other trees are similar?

Can easily be confused with?	Other conifers- but their needles will be arranged differently and their cones are different

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Non-native - commonly planted
Where is its natural range?	Western North America
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Freely draining rocky or sandysoils which are neutral or acid. Will grow at heights of 1800m
What is its British conservation status?	Frequent

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber	A very common timber tree, the pine wood has a large variety of uses.

Old tree in exposure

Open cone

Showing flowers

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees

©2013 The Woodland Trust