Douglas Fir - Pseudotsuga menziesii

Description

A fast growing, tall tree with a narrow to broadly conic crown that typically becomes flattened or irregular in age. The needles are slightly soft and have a fruity, resinous aroma when crushed. The cones are rather shaggy looking and egg shaped.

Similar Species

Other species in Pinaceae with needles borne singly; however, cones are very distinctive 

Identification difficulty
ID guidance

Cones have 3-toothed bracts sticking out from between the scales

Recording advice

Photo of cones.  It may not be possible to verify from pictures of shoot alone

Habitat

Usually found in parks and gardens as a planted tree.

When to see it

All year round.

Life History

Evergreen.

UK Status

Widespread as a planted tree in Britain.

VC55 Status

Not well recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland. It was not included in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Douglas Fir
Species group:
Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Pinales
Family:
Pinaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
7
First record:
30/08/2016 (Mathers, Steve)
Last record:
29/11/2020 (Gray, Stephen)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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