Christmas Tree Species - Douglas Fir

Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
The Douglas Fir is not a true fir tree. It's a wide-ranging species that grows from 70' to 240' tall. Branches are spreading to drooping, the buds sharply pointed and the bark is very thick, fluted, ridged, rough and dark brown. Needles are dark green or blue-green, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, soft to the touch and radiate out in all directions from the branch. They have a sweet fragrance when crushed. Pollen strobili are small and reddish-brown. Young cones are small, oval shaped and hang downward. They are reddish-brown to gray, 3" long and do not dissipate to spread seed as do true firs. The cones open in the late summer to disperse the seeds and will continue to hang on the trees through autumn. The Douglas-fir has been the major Christmas tree species used in the Pacific Northwest USA since the 1920's.

Photographs on this page are used with kind permission of the National Christmas Tree Association (USA). Their website is: www.realchristmastrees.org