Douglas Fir

The Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is a large-sized native evergreen tree. As a young tree, it has a pyramidal form with cascading lower branches and ascending upper branches. As it matures, it sheds its lower limbs and takes on a more conical and irregular form. Its needle evergreen foliage is flat and deep green to blue-green. This tree is rarely seen without brown, ovoid cones hanging from its limbs. Its bark is brownish gray and smooth when young before it becomes thicker and develops a more reddish brown color and deep furrows with age.  

The Douglas Fir is native to western North America, its native range stretching from central British Columbia to down the Pacific Coast to central California and Mexico and over to the Rocky Mountains and some parts of Arizona and Texas. It is one of the most important trees for timber in the western United States and is also one of the most cultivated trees sold as Christmas trees. It can be a superb specimen planted in groupings or can form an excellent screen in yards and parks.