Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
| Needle retention | Very good: holds needles well when kept in water |
|---|---|
| Fragrance | Sweet fragrance when needles are crushed |
| Needles | Soft needles 1–1.5 in radiating in all directions |
| Ornaments | Spreading-to-drooping branches: better for light and medium ornaments |
| Color | Dark green to blue-green |
| Grown in | Central California through western Oregon and Washington to Alaska and the Rockies; interior variety planted in Midwest plantations |
| USDA zones | 4-6 (for planting a living tree; find your zone by ZIP) |
Worth knowing
- Not a true fir: genus Pseudotsuga.
- A Christmas market staple since the 1920s.
Care notes
Whatever the species: make a fresh half-inch cut off the trunk before it goes in the stand, use a stand that holds a quart of water per inch of trunk diameter, top it up daily, and keep the tree away from heat. Details in the care guide.
Sources: National Christmas Tree Association: Tree Varieties · PA Christmas Tree Growers Association: Selection Guide · Oregon State University: Christmas tree choices · NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox