Pseudotsuga menziesii - Douglas Fir

Pseudotsuga menziesnii, also known as Douglas Fir, Douglas Pine, or Oregon Pine, is a conifer with very large growth that, along with Sequoia sempervirens, is a major component of the giant resinous forests that line the Pacific coast. It is recognised by its typical fir-shaped silhouette and its massive, straight trunk, covered with a deeply grooved thick bark on mature specimens. It is an extremely hardy species, with rapid growth, thriving in lime-poor, well-drained, even poor and fairly dry soils. 

Pseudotsuga menziesii belongs to the pine family. This large conifer is native to North America, and found along the Pacific coast from California to British Columbia and Canada. An adult specimen (which can live between 400 and 500 years) reaches a height of 80 to 100 m (262 to 328ft) in its native regions with a spread of 20 m (66ft), but specimens planted in Europe, still relatively young, do not exceed 60 m (197ft) tall. The Douglas Fir shows rapid growth, which has encouraged its massive planting in Europe for reforestation. In France, the Douglas Fir was planted from 1842, particularly in the Massif Central and in the Moselle area. It is a species that prefers oceanic climates, and in any case acidic and light soils in areas that aren't too arid. Its heartwood, resistant to decay, is widely used in construction. 

The Oregon Pine develops a vertical trunk that extends to the tip of its crown. Massive at the base, the trunk is covered with a thick brown to reddish bark that darkens over time, becoming grayish-brown to anthracite gray, with deep grooves. The crown is initially pyramidal, spread out, then takes on a more oval shape. The upper main branches are ascending, while those that grow downwards are directed towards the ground. The young twigs are slightly hairy, with a yellowish-green to yellowish-gray colour. The needles measure 15 to 30 mm (1in) long, they are quite thick, soft, flexible, curved, pointed, shiny, with a bright green to emerald green color, slightly bluish in spring. They are inserted on a cushion all around the twigs, in a brush-like arrangement. They release a very pleasant scent of resin, lemongrass, and passion fruit when crushed. The Douglas Fir is a monoecious plant, on which male "flowers" and female "flowers" are separate but present on the same individual. Cones appear in April-May. They are pendulous and measure between 5 and 10 cm (2 and 4in) long. This conifer has a powerful taproot and a highly developed root system, which makes transplanting large specimens somewhat delicate, but allows it to draw nutrients deeply from the soil. 

The Douglas Fir is a majestic conifer that will delight enthusiasts of gigantism and owners of large properties. The true graphic qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of contemporary gardens, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of blooms. These plants, with their reassuring permanence, structurally define the space. Pseudotsuga menziesii will be a preferred choice in acidic and poor soils, planted as a standalone specimen or in a group.