Douglas Fir Evergreens Seeds for Tall and Straight Landscape or Bonsai
Douglas fir grows tall and straight. In fact, it is the tallest conifer in the Northwest, where it can grow to over 300 feet (90 meters). Only redwoods in California grow to a greater height. Douglas fir is also the most common and widely distributed species in the Pacific Northwest. Any conifer you see west of the Cascade summit in Oregon or Washington is more likely to be a Douglas fir than any other species.
Douglas fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesii) are also known as red firs, Oregon pines, and Douglas spruce. The Douglas firs are not pines, spruce, or even true firs.
Douglas firs in the landscape are elegant and attractive. The tree’s form is a tall, slender triangle, and young firs are often used as Christmas trees. Gardeners appreciate Douglas firs in the landscape for their green-blue needles.
When you are planting a Douglas fir, be sure to site the tree in an area with excellent drainage. Even the best Douglas fir tree care will not enable this evergreen to thrive in poorly drained soils. Douglas fir tree care includes providing irrigation in the summer. You’ll need to water between one and four times each month, depending on rainfall and how the soil holds water. You’ll do best planting a Douglas fir tree in a shady area. Either part shade or full shade will work fine. Be certain that the soil is deep, moist, and well-drained. Once the tree is established, Douglas fir tree care is minimal. The tree is drought-tolerant.
Needles: Douglas fir is easy to identify. The thin needles stick out in all directions from the twig like a bottle brush. Although the appearance is similar to that of spruce, the needle tips are soft, unlike the sharp spruce needles.
Bark: Young bark is gray and smooth with resin blisters like the true firs. On large trees, you can usually identify a Douglas fir by the bark alone. The thick bark is deeply furrowed, more than any other tree in the region. The color is gray to brown and usually brown at the bottom of the furrows.
Where it grows: Douglas fir is the state tree of Oregon and by far the most common conifer in the state. It grows throughout western Oregon and Washington as well as large areas east of the Cascades. It thrives in direct sunlight but is shade tolerant. It naturally propagates from seeds on bare ground in areas destroyed by fire. It is often planted after logging, resulting in extensive stands of pure Douglas fir.
Growing Douglas Fir From Seed
You must stratify the seeds.
First, soak your seeds in water for a day then dry then for another day. Then put them in a plastic sandwich bag making sure there’s plenty of air in the bag, then place the bag in your refrigerator’s vegetable crisper drawer for at least four weeks.
Or you can then plant them in pots and then place them in a cold frame outside over winter.
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