25. Douglas Fir

Tree Tour

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Six conifers are in the HUB lawn area: three Douglas firs, two western red cedars, and a Norway spruce. One of the firs has Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), and another has a young madrona tree (Arbutus Menziesii) at its base. Douglas Fir is the preeminent Pacific Northwest tree. It covers more acres, grows larger, and provides more wood (and bark) than any other species. Most of us know it by sight merely because it is so common. We've all seen it as Christmas trees. As a mature tree, two characteristics stand out: First, the trunks tend to be like telephone poles, without low branches, and are covered with thick, dark, corky bark--to protect from fire. Secondly, the trees are dark, from density of their inch-long needles. The cones, 3-4 inches long, are easily distinguished from hemlock, spruce, or pine cones.

Pictured below: Map showing geographical range of Douglas Fir.

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