Before commercial logging, some of the world’s tallest trees were Douglas-firs in the old-growth forests of Pacific coastal North America. First documented in 1792 at Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island, by Archibald Menzies (1754-1842), who also introduced Monkey Puzzle to Britain. David Douglas (1799-1834) collected seed, introduced to Britain in 1827. It is now among the tallest trees (over 60m) in north-west Europe.
Two varieties grow across a vast North American range, south from British Columbia and Alberta to Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. Var. menziesii grows in coastal regions from British Columbia south, while var. glauca grows inland along the Rocky Mountains to Arizona and New Mexico.
Monoecious, cones of both sexes are produced on the same tree in April, the seed maturing in September.
Usually to 60m (champions exceed this), often in forest among other conifers, with a very straight, impressive trunk. Bark grey, developing large fissures with age, often orange-tinged and recognisable with practice. Needles soft, flexible, about 3cm, aromatic. Female cones have distinctive three-pronged bracts protruding beyond the scales.
Trees from low-elevation coastal Washington do best in Britain and Ireland. It grows best in moist, deep, fertile soils, thriving in western Europe, but dislikes waterlogged soils and frost pockets. It casts heavy shade, so is a poor companion for other species.
In its native range it is a keystone species, vital to many wildlife habitats. Where introduced it supports general wildlife, though its heavy shade and soil-acidifying effect can reduce ground flora. Some research suggests mixing it with native species may benefit biodiversity, even before climate change is considered.
The productivity of this species is likely only to thrive with climate change, and it is among the most resistant of species to wildfire. Susceptible to fungus-like pathogen Phytophthora pluvialis.
Its valuable timber is light red-brown, often pink-tinged, sometimes traded as ‘Oregon pine’. It dries well to give stable, easily worked wood. Its dimensional stability suits flooring, aircraft, boat-building and load-bearing construction. Clean of knots, its uniformity gives attractive figure for veneer and plywood. In the USA it is popular for Christmas trees.
