Common Douglas Fir

Douglas fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesiit) are native to western North America, but derive their familiar name from the Scottish botanist, David Douglas. The coastal variety is fast growing and long-lived, reaching over 300' tall and 500 years of age, with some over 1,300 years old. The are well adapted to fire management, as they shed their lower limbs when they grow. The tree’s seeds are an important food source for small mammals like squirrels. They also provide a rich source of vitamin C, and were likely used by the Ohlone for medicinal purposes. Douglas fir is the country's top source of lumber today, and played a significant role in building structures in the American West, since the mid-1800s. Almost half the Christmas trees grown in this country are douglas fir.