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Biology 250
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Pseudotsuga menziesii
Douglas Fir
The Douglas Fir tree is an evergreen tree and a member of the pine family. It has enjoyed popularity over the years as a favorite Christmas tree. Medium in size this tree often grows to heights of 70-390 feet tall. They have flat, soft needles and produce cones with persistent scales. The 2 cm needles are blue-green in color and some can also be dark green in color. The Douglas Fir tree is somewhat broader than the Spruce tree with their branches spreading from 10 to 25 feet. One of the fastest growing evergreen trees, the Douglas Fir has been known to live for hundreds of years!
Additional Attributes
One major fact to keep in mind with these trees is that although they are called fir trees, they are not actually fir trees as they are not members of the genus Abies. The Douglas Fir is typically found in the Rocky Mountains but is grown throughout the United States as both a landscaping tree and a Christmas tree. As with many pine trees, the Douglas Fir should be carefully maintained so as to avoid pests and disease. To keep pests and insects away from the tree, natural or chemical pesticides can be used. The seeds of these trees are food for chipmunks, squirrels, deer and other birds and mammals.