Douglas Fir
(Oregon Pine or Douglas Spruce)
Decription
Douglas Fir's commonly grow up to 250 feet in old growth forests and can reach 5 to 6 feet in diameter.
The branches are spreading to drooping and the bark is thick rough and dark brown. The needles are dark green or blue green and 1-1 1/2 inches. The needles give off a sweet fragrance when crushed.
The lifespan of a Douglas-Fir Tree is anywhere from 500 to 1,000 years.
Range
The entire range includes central California, western Oregon and Washington, parts of the Rockies and extends north to Alaska.The Trees can live for a thousand years, largely due to a very thick bark that allows them to survive moderate fires.
Uses
Douglas fir is one of the world's best timber producers and yields more timber than any other tree in North America.
Uses: Christmas Trees,
dimensional lumber, house logs,
timbers flooring, pulp, furniture,
railroad ties, posts and poles, fencing,
mine timbers, Landscaping
Facts
Many animals in the temperate rainforest feed off of the needles of the tree. Numerous species of birds as well as rabbits, elk, deer, beaver, and chipmunks rely on the needles as a staple of their diet.
Because of the thick bark of mature Douglas-Fir trees, it is often able to survive forest fires with the only damage being blackened bark.