Pseudotsuga menziesii

13 Jan

Pseudotsuga menziesii (06/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Early spring

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 75m

Eventual Spread: 20m

Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a

Family: Pinaceae

Pseudotsuga menziesii is a long lived, large upright evergreen tree with a conical habit. Its mid green leaves are spirally arranged, flattish, up to 3.5cm long and 1.5mm broad. Its leaves are fragrant when crushed. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 4m. Its young bark is smooth and grey, on mature trees thick and corky with fine cracks. Its green monoecious flowers are in the form of pollen cones, up to 8mm long and are wind pollinated. Its fruit are in the form of pendulous cones, when mature these are light brown, up to 8cm long, 4cm broad with a pointed tip and mature in late summer.

Pseudotsuga menziesii, commonly known as the Douglas Fir, Oregon Pine or Douglas Pine, is native to western North America. This tree was introduced into the UK in 1827. This tree is commonly cultivated as a lumber tree. It has naturalised throughout Europe. It has also naturalised in New Zealand where it is considered an invasive species.

The etymological root of the binomial name Pseudotsuga is derived from the Greek pseudo meaning ‘false’ and Tsuga another conifer tree. Menziesii is named after Archibald Menzies (1754 – 1842), a Scottish naturalist and discoverer of this tree in Vancouver Island in 1791.

The landscape architect may find Pseudotsuga menziesii useful as a reforestation tree as a pioneer species. It is also useful as a large specimen tree.

Ecologically, Pseudotsuga menziesii seeds are attractive to some birds and mammals.It provides valuable roosting for some birds.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Pseudotsuga menziesii their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.