Lushootseed names: čəbidac (pronounce ch-bee-dotz)

Location: Several very fine examples located on the lawn in front of the HUB which also has the redcedar and swing.

Summary: The Douglas-fir provides another example where a name can lead to confusion regarding where this species fits in the tree of life, since the species is not in fact a true fir of the genus Abies. Instead, this tree belongs to a different genus referred to as Pseudotsuga. The Douglas-fir is the most common tree in forests of our state, occurring on both sides of the Cascade mountains. Ragged gray green foliage forms a pyramidal to cylindrical crown. Specimens can be spotted growing from British Columbia down to Mexico, and can easily be confused for other species. The size and shape of these trees may vary somewhat across this wide range, but they achieve their largest and grandest appearance here in the Pacific Northwest, where it is not uncommon for these giants to achieve heights of over 300’ and diameters in excess of 15’. This places them soundly among the top five largest tree species on the planet. Unlike with true firs, the cones of this species are prolific, falling to the ground in great numbers. They are readily identifiable by the papery bracts which extend out from beneath each of the hard woody scales of this tree. Both the common and scientific name of the species pay homage to early European botanists who are often credited with the “discovery” of the tree, but of course it has been known to Indigenous peoples of North America for tens of thousands of years.

The Douglas-fir can live for as long as 1,200 years, often germinating in open patches following fire or a windfall and persisting as a dominant forest tree once established. The species does have trouble germinating in deep shade, and given a long enough time between a forest-clearing disturbance, it will give way to more shade-tolerant species such as the hemlock. The thick rough bark of Douglas-fir allows them to survive forest fires better than other west-side trees. Today, the life cycle of this species has been interrupted by a century of fire suppression and the removal of Indigenous land management burning practices from the forest. Without fire, forests become denser, and in the long run all this extra wood serves as fuel for larger and hotter fires that can ultimately take down even the fire-hardy old Douglas-fir.

An immensely important timber tree, the overwhelming majority of the most massive Douglas-fir were cut between the mid-19th and late-20th century. Today, the tree is still a key component of the lumber industry, with younger and smaller specimens serving as the basis for the plantation-style forests that today cover much of western Washington’s lowlands. About a third of the lumber exports from the United States are Douglas-fir. This species is fairly drought-tolerant, and does well in a city landscape when provided the space, offering wonderful habitat value in our urban area.

Historical Background: The Nuxalks, Quinault, and other coastal tribes used the heartwood for torches. The Comox use a fermented Douglas-fir powder to stuff dogfish before cooking. Wood was used to craft hunting instruments such as spear handles, salmon weirs, and fish hooks. Its young needles can also be boiled with sugar water to make an edible syrup. 

Native

Native Range: Western North America

Identifying Features: Douglas firs are the most common of trees in Washington. In spite of their name they are not a true fir! Though they have features which may be confusing (due to a rather wide range and the consequent phenotypic variation) there are features which distinguish them. Douglas firs have pointed needles (unlike the notched tips of a true native fir). The buds are similarly sharper, and do not always grow in cruciform pattern (although they can). The bark especially on older trees is a gnarly ridged dark brown (very distinctive), and the tree large and pyramidal in crown shape. In the southern end of the range foliage can be very sparse, but generally grows thicker in the wetter regions. 

Identifying Features In Depth:

1. Form: Large with high apical and a generally  pyramidal crown shape on a large tree which grows to 230” (70m) tall (some cases document to 295” or 90 meters)! The branches are slightly drooping off a stiff erect leader.

2. Leaves: Needles are 0.5-1.5’ in length and yellowish green with pointed tips. Needles are generally flat, with one groove on the upper surface and 2 stomatal bands, arising from pointed sharp buds. When pulled off they leave a flat scar (as opposed to the circular scars left when a true fir needle is pulled off), and are spirally arranged on the branch. They can appear flat and horizontal like the grand fir or bottlebrush in pattern like the subalpine fir, a wide array of environmental variation that can cause one to easily mistake it for a true fir without a deeper look.

3. Bark: Deep and furrowed especially with age, very distinctive, anywhere from gray speckled to a dark red brown.

4. Reproductive Bodies: Pollen cones are reddish brown and small, while the seed cones are 2-4’ (5-10cm) in length, hanging and ovular. The cones are green at flowering but turn brown to grey when mature. The scales are papery and display prominent 3 forked bracts that extend beyond the scales. Unlike a true fir, Douglas firs drop their cones to the ground where they may often be found in abundance.