Pseudotsuga menziesii
Trees & Shrubs

Douglas Fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii

Douglas Fir · Light: Full sun · Water: Moderate. Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.

LightFull sun
WaterModerate
DifficultyModerate
CategoryTrees & Shrubs
Account →
Climate matters. This page is a practical baseline. Confirm cultivar, local frost/heat conditions, mature size and regional restrictions before planting.

Douglas Fir — Growing reference

Scientific namePseudotsuga menziesii
Seed germination (days)20–40
Soil temperature for germination (°C)12.8–20
First harvest or flowering (days)1460–3650
Measured fromTransplant
Plant spacing (cm)609.6–1219.2
Mature height (cm)1524–2743.2
Mature spread (cm)609.6–914.4
USDA hardiness zones4–6
LightFull sun
WaterModerate
Sowing methodTransplant

Growing directions

Plant balled-and-burlapped or container-grown trees in spring or fall in deep, well-drained, slightly acidic soil in full sun, allowing generous room to grow since this is one of the largest conifers in North America. Douglas fir carries soft, flat, blue-green to dark green needles and distinctive pendulous cones with three-pointed bracts that protrude past each scale, a reliable identification feature unique among conifers. It is among the most important timber trees on the continent and is also the most widely grown Christmas tree species in cooler climates, valued in the landscape for dense pyramidal form and a strong central leader. Performance declines sharply outside cool, humid, well-drained mountain and coastal climates, so it is a poor choice for the hot, humid Southeast or dry, alkaline plains soils.

Source and local conditions

Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.

OpenPlantDB · douglas-fir

Source & verification

OpenPlantDB · CC0

Open reference source ↗