# Douglas Fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) The Douglas Fir is a tall tree with soft, flat needles. It has a lovely smell that many people enjoy! - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 16 - **Habitat:** Mountainous regions and forests - **Also known as:** Coast Douglas-fir, Douglas-fir, Oregon Pine, Red Fir, Yellow Fir ![Douglas Fir](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424574/objects/4842.jpg) ## Appearance The Douglas Fir is a majestic evergreen tree with dark green, flat needles. Its thick, deeply furrowed bark is reddish-brown. Distinctive cones have three-pointed bracts that stick out like tiny mouse tails. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Pinophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Pinaceae - **Genus:** Pseudotsuga ## Interesting facts - If you crush its needles, they release a sweet, citrusy scent! - It's not a 'true fir'! Despite its name, Douglas Fir is in its own special tree group. - Its wood is famous for building, often making strong beams for big structures. - Some Douglas Firs have lived for over 1,300 years, standing tall since ancient times! ## Special abilities - **Fire Shield Skin:** Douglas Fir has incredibly thick bark that protects its inner layers from forest fires, helping it survive. - **Sky-High Dominance:** Douglas Fir can grow over 300 feet tall, allowing it to reach sunlight above most other trees. - **Mouse-Tail Seed Spreader:** Douglas Fir has unique cones with little 'mouse tails' (bracts) that help seeds catch the wind and fly further. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-100 m - **Spread:** 8-20 m - **Edible:** No - **Size:** 100-400 cm - **Lifespan:** 200-1000 years - **Fruit Type:** Cone - **Growth Rate:** Medium - **Leaf Type:** Evergreen ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Young trees and seedlings are browsed by deer. - **Eats:** [Western Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus griseus*) — Squirrels gather and eat the nutritious seeds from the cones. - **Shelter:** Spotted Owl (*Strix occidentalis*) — Mature Douglas Firs provide crucial nesting sites for these owls. - **Symbiotic with:** Wine-colored truffle (*Rhizopogon vinicolor*) — Fungi help the tree absorb nutrients from the soil. ## Traits - [Coniferous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coniferous): Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Temperate Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/temperate-rainforest): This habitat trait identifies species found in temperate rainforests, characterized by significant rainfall, mild temperatures, and dense evergreen or deciduous forests in coastal regions. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Douglas Fir? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Douglas Fir? 30-100 m ### How wide does Douglas Fir spread? 8-20 m ### Is Douglas Fir edible? No ### How big is Douglas Fir? 100-400 cm ### How long does Douglas Fir live? 200-1000 years ### Where is Douglas Fir usually found? Mountainous regions and forests ### What kind of fruit does Douglas Fir produce? Cone ## Where to spot - [Bromley Rock Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bromley-rock-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [East Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Illahee State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illahee-state-park) — Washington, US · State Park - [Mehatl Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mehatl-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Ross Lake National Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ross-lake-national-recreation-area) — Washington, US · National Park - [Jáji7em and Kw’ulh Marine Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/j-ji7em-and-kwulh-marine-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Douglas Fir](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/douglas-fir) ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [Douglas Fir: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/douglas-fir)