Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas Fir)

Douglas Fir is the defining tree of the Pacific Northwest, and one that Dragonfly knows well from the forests surrounding Langlois. It is Oregon's state tree and one of the most important timber trees in North America, but young specimens in the landscape make outstanding specimen trees with their soft, blue-green needles and conical form. The needles have a pleasant, slightly sweet fragrance when crushed.

In cultivation, Douglas Fir grows steadily and eventually becomes a large tree, so it works best on larger properties where it has room to develop. It establishes well in our coastal soils and handles the wind and salt-laced air of the southern Oregon coast better than many conifers. Fallen needles create a slightly acidic duff beneath the canopy that suits companion plantings of ferns, rhododendrons, and other woodland plants.

This is a tree to plant with the long view in mind. Young trees move well and establish reliably with consistent watering in the first year or two. Once rooted, Douglas Fir is drought-tolerant and largely self-sufficient, providing habitat for wildlife from songbirds to owls for generations.