© Greg Rabourn
Douglas-fir trunk (enlarge)

Pseudotsuga menziesii

Evergreen Tree

Height: 250 ft.

Availability: Medium

Growing ease: High

Moisture req.: dry - moist

Exposure req.: sun - part shade

Plant description:

Certainly the ubiquitous native tree of our region, the Douglas fir is host to many native species of insect and bird. Fast growing and predictable, it can be grown in almost any native soil but will sometimes blow down if planted in shallow soils over compacted clay or glacial till. For that reason it has better luck growing in groves that have been thinned a bit to allow air circulation. Certainly a great backdrop tree, it provides good screening and a sense of grandeur to any garden. The constant needle drop will adversely affect adjacent lawns over time. So keep it some distance from lawns. This tree cannot be topped or effectively hedged so give it plenty of space (allow 15' diameter).

Keywords: birds, butterflies, conifer (evergreen), drought tolerant, fast

Articles that mention this plant: Deer resistant plants

Plans that use this plant:Dry, part shade, Dry, sunny