Douglas Fir seed
LATIN NAME: Pseudotsuga menziesii
COMMON NAME: Douglas Fir, Douglas-fir, Oregon Pine
The Douglas fir is one of the great trees of the North American West, and its towering, straight trunks and its fragrant, blue-green foliage have built the forests and the timber trade of the region. It grows as a tall, evergreen conifer of the pine family, reaching up to seventy metres and more in the wild, making it the tallest tree of its family, with a straight, massive trunk and a conical crown of soft, fragrant, blue-green leaves, while the distinctive cones bear the three-pointed bracts that give the tree its character, and the young trees have a smooth, resinous bark that becomes thick and corky with age. It is native to western North America, and it is also known as the Douglas-fir, the Douglas spruce or the Oregon pine, while it is one of the most important of the timber trees and a beloved tree of the Christmas season.
The Douglas fir belongs to the pine family, Pinaceae, and it is an evergreen conifer native to western North America. It is the tallest tree of the Pinaceae family, and it is also known as the Douglas-fir, the Douglas spruce or the Oregon pine, while it is one of the most important of the timber trees.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The Douglas fir has a genuine and distinguished place in both forestry and ecological research. It has been studied in forestry science, since it is one of the most important of the timber trees, and researchers have examined its growth, its timber and its management, while the wood of the Douglas fir has been greatly valued for the building, the framing and the plywood, and its cultivation in the great plantations has been examined, while the tree has been a cornerstone of the forestry of the West for a very long time. The tree has also been studied in ecology, since it is a great tree of the western forests, and researchers have examined its growth, its role in the forest community and its great age, while the old-growth forests of the Douglas fir have been studied and celebrated, and the tree’s value to the wildlife and to the landscape has been examined. The species has also been studied in horticulture, since it is a beloved tree of the Christmas season and a handsome ornamental, and its cultivation has been examined. For a tree of such stature and such importance, the Douglas fir has a rich and distinguished record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the Douglas fir is a great and generous tree of the western forests. Its foliage gives shelter, its seeds feed the birds and the small animals, and its towering trunks and thick bark give cover to the wildlife, while it is a noble presence in the forests of the North American West.
Its economic value is enormous. It is one of the most important of the timber trees of the world, and its strong wood has built the houses and the structures of the West, while it is also a beloved tree of the Christmas season, grown and sold in great numbers, and it has drawn attention in the international forestry and trade press. For a grower, the Douglas fir is a rewarding and handsome tree, and for a gardener it brings fragrant, blue-green foliage and a noble presence. The seeds need a spell of cold — keep them in the fridge in damp compost for a month, then sow them in a pot of moist, free-draining compost, and they’ll sprout steadily, growing on into a noble, fragrant conifer.
Pseudotsuga menziesii -Douglas Fir Seeds
This evergreen specie is native to the coastal forest in British Columbia.
In old growth forests, Douglas Fir can grow into an incredible imposing tree – 75 m (245′) or more in height is not uncommon.
They provide nesting and living quarters for many birds and small mammals and their seed is eaten by a wide range of small mammals and birds.
Douglas Fir is a very important timber source and is used extensively in reforestation (the fast growth rate makes it a popular choice) and for use in naturalization and reclamation projects.
Height 245 feet
Full – partial sun