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Pseudotsuga menziesii
| Common name: |
Douglas Fir |
Family: |
Pinaceae |
| Author: |
(Mirb.)Franko. |
Botanical references: |
11, 60, 200 |
| Synonyms: |
Pseudotsuga taxifolia ((Lamb.)Britton. ex Sudw.), Pseudotsuga douglasii ((Lindl.)Carrière.), Pinus taxifolia (Lamb.), Abies menziesii (Mirb.), Abies douglasii (Lindl.) |
| Known Hazards: |
None known |
| Range: |
Western N. America - Canada to California. Occasionally self-sows in Britain[17]. |
| Habitat: |
Moist to very dry areas from sea level to near the tree-line in the Rocky mountains[60]. The best specimens are found on well-drained deep loamy soils with plenty of moisture[229]. |
| Edibility Rating (1-5): |
2 | Medicinal Rating (1-5): | 2 |
| Other Possible Synonyms: | From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Abies mucronata[G]
Abies taxifolia[G]
P. menziesii var. menziesii[B,CPHOTO,CAL,,G,P]
P. mucronata[G,P]
P. tascifolia[H]
P. taxifolia var. viridis[G]
Pinus douglasii[G]
|
| Other Common Names: | From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Coast Douglas-fir [FEIS], Douglas Fir [H,P,E], Douglas-fir [B,DEN1], Douglasspar [D], |
| Systematics: | From a USDA
Plants Database |
|
Order: Pinales. Pine family
|
| Other Range Info: |
From the Ethnobotany Database |
|
Canada(Kwakiutl); Us; Us(Blackfoot); Us(Flathead)
|
Physical Characteristics
An evergreen tree growing to 75m by 20m at a fast rate. It is hardy to zone 7 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from March to May, and the seeds ripen from September to November. The scented flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by Wind.
We rate it 2/5 for edibility and
2/5 for medicinal use.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.
The plant prefers acid and neutral soils.
It cannot grow in the shade.
It requires moist or wet soil.
The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Bog Garden, Woodland, Canopy.Edible Uses
Coffee; Condiment; Gum; Inner bark; Manna; Tea.
Young shoot tips - used as a flavouring in cooked foods[15, 177]. A
subtle woodsy flavour[183].
A refreshing tea is made from the young leaves and twigs[14, 46, 177, 257].
Rich in vitamin C[183]. It is used as a coffee substitute according to some
reports[92, 95, 161, 257]. The fresh leaves have a pleasant balsamic odour
and are used as a coffee substitute[213].
Inner bark - dried, ground into a meal and mixed with cereals for making
bread etc[161, 213]. A famine food used when all else fails[177].
A sweet manna-like substance is exuded from the bark[177, 183]. This report
possibly refers to the resin that is obtained from the trunk[K], and is used
as a chewing gum by various native North American Indian tribes[226].
Alternatively, the report could be referring to the sap which is used as a
sugar-like food[257].
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Antirheumatic; Antiseptic; Kidney; Mouthwash; Poultice; Skin.
Douglas fir was often employed medicinally by various native North
American Indian tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints[257]. It
is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism.
An antiseptic resin is obtained from the trunk. It is used as a poultice to
treat cuts, burns, wounds and other skin ailments[226, 257]. The poultice is
also used to treat injured or dislocated bones[257]. The resin is used in the
treatment of coughs and can be chewed as a treatment for sore throats[257].
An infusion of the green bark has been used in the treatment of excessive
menstruation, bleeding bowels and stomach problems[257].
An infusion of the leaves has been used as a wash and a sweat bath for
rheumatic and paralyzed joints[257].
An infusion of the young sprouts has been used in the treatment of
colds[257].
An infusion of the twigs or shoots has been used in the treatment of kidney
and bladder problems[257].
A decoction of the buds has been used in the treatment of venereal
disease[257].
Young shoots have been placed in the tips of shoes to keep the feet from
perspiring and to prevent athletes foot[257].
A mouthwash is made by soaking the shoots in cold water[15].
Other Uses
Basketry; Cork; Dye; Fertilizer; Fuel; Insecticide; Resin; Shelterbelt; Tannin; Wood.
A light brown dye is obtained from the bark[118, 257].
The bark is a source of tannins[46, 82].
The bark can be used as a cork substitute[171] and is also used to make
fertilizer[226].
The bark contains pitch, it burns with a lot of heat and almost no smoke, so
it is prized as a fuel[226, 257].
The small roots have been used to make baskets[257].
The plant has insecticidal properties[171].
A resin is obtained from the trunk, similar to Abies balsamea[61, 64] which
is used in the manufacture of glues, candles, as a cement for microscopes and
slides and also as a fixative in soaps and perfumery[171]. The resin can also
be used as a caulking material on boats[257].
A fast growing and fairly wind-resistant tree, it is often used in
shelterbelt plantings[185].
Wood - heavy, strong, fine grained, durable, though it can be of variable
quality. It dries quickly, does not warp and is easily worked, it is used for
heavy construction, telegraph poles, furniture etc[21, 46, 61, 82, 99, 171,
200, 226]. It is also used as a good quality fuel[46, 99, 257].
Cultivation details
Prefers a moist but not water-logged alluvial soil[1]. Dislikes
calcareous soils[1]. Trees are a failure on dry hungry soils.[11]. Whilst
they are moderately wind resistant[166], tall specimens are likely to lose
their crowns once they are more than 30 metres tall in all but the most
sheltered areas[185].
A very ornamental tree[1], it is the most cultivated timber tree in the
world and is extensively used for re-afforestation in Britain[200]. There are
several named varieties selected for their ornamental value[188].
Trees can be established in light shade but this must be removed in the
first few years or growth will suffer[185].
Very slow growing for its first few years, growth soon becomes extremely
fast with new shoots of up to 1.2 metres a year[185]. This annual increase
can be maintained for many years[185]. Trees in sheltered Scottish valleys
have reached 55 metres in 100 years[200]. New growth takes place from May to
July[185]. The trees require abundant rainfall for good growth[11, 49].
Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite
small, between 30 and 90cm. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on
any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and
wind resistance[200].
Trees are very long-lived, specimens over 1,000 years old are known[226].
Seed production commences when trees are about 10 years old, though good
production takes another 15 - 20 years[229]. Good crops are produced about
every 6 years[229].
This tree is a pioneer species because it cannot reproduce under its own
canopy[226].
The bark on mature trees can be 30cm thick, and this insulates the trunks
from the heat of forest fires[213].
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[81, 200]. Young growth can
be damaged by late frosts[81].
The leaves have a strong sweet fruity aroma[185].
Propagation
Seed - best sown in the autumn to winter in a cold frame so that it is
stratified[80]. The seed can also be stored dry and sown in late winter. When
they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots
and grow them on in light shade in the cold frame for at least their first
winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early
summer, after the last expected frosts. Seedlings tolerate light shade for
their first few years of growth. Cones often fall from the tree with their
seed still inside[80].
If you have plenty of seed then it can be sown in an outdoor seedbed in
early spring[80]. Grow the plants on for at least two years in the seedbed
before planting them out in late autumn or early spring.
Scent
-
Leaves: Crushed
- The leaves have a strong sweet fruity aroma.
Cultivars
- ''
- There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].
Suppliers
For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.
PFAF Web Pages
This plant is mentioned in the following web pages
Web References
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
- [E] Ethnobotany Data
(common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
- [V] Images
from the Vascular Plant Image Gallery of the Texas A&M Bioinformatics Working Group.
- [B] Data
(Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
- [S] Illustration
from the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
- [P] Data.
(uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
- [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
- [DEN] Data _ Photos
(Good Identification info) from the Virginia Tech's Dendrology Deptarments' Tree Fact Sheets.
References for Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (a possible synonym).
References for Pseudotsuga tascifolia (a possible synonym).
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
References for Pseudotsuga taxifolia (a possible synonym).
References for the family Pinaceae.
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.
Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.
[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
[14] Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979 ISBN 0-87857-262-7
A good herbal.
[15] Bryan. J. and Castle. C. Edible Ornamental Garden. Pitman Publishing 1976 ISBN 0-273-00098-5
A small book with interesting ideas for edible plants in the ornamental garden.
[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
[49] Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.
Trees and shrubs that grow well in &ndndndnd and other mild areas of Britain. Fairly good, a standard reference book.
[60] Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955
A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader.
[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
[64] Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber
A very good book dealing with the subject in a readable way.
[80] McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985 ISBN 0-901361-21-6
Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.
[81] Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X
Deals with conifers that can be grown outdoors in Britain. Good notes on cultivation and a few bits about plant uses.
[82] Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X
Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader.
[92] Balls. E. K. Early Uses of Californian Plants. University of California Press 1975 ISBN 0-520-00072-2
A nice readable book.
[95] Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976 ISBN 0-486-23310-3
Useful wild plants of America. A pocket guide.
[99] Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7
Excellent and readable guide.
[118] Gunther. E. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press 1981 ISBN 0-295-95258-X
A small book, it is a good guide to useful plants in Western N. America.
[161] Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
A comprehensive but very terse guide. Not for the casual reader.
[166] Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990
A good book on plants that you didn't know could be grown outdoors in Britain.
[171] Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952
Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some a bit of detail about the plants it does cover.
[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[185] Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975 ISBN 0-11-710012-9
A bit out of date (first published in 1972), but an excellent guide to how well the various species of conifers grow in Britain giving locations of trees.
[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[213] Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980 ISBN 0-449-90589-6
A nice book to read though it is difficult to look up individual plants since the book is divided into separate sections dealing with the different medicinal uses plus a section on edible plants. Common names are used instead of botanical.
[226] Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989 ISBN 0889025649
Very good on identification for non-experts, the book also has a lot of information on plant uses.
[229] Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980 ISBN 0442238622
A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions.
[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
Readers Comments
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Bibliography
Plant information taken from the
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Species Database.
Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963 This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Pseudotsuga+menziesii
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