Pseudotsuga menziesii

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Pinaceae

Genus

Pseudotsuga

Life cycle

perennial

Foliage

evergreen

Woodiness

woody

Growth rate

vigorous

Height

75 m

Spread

20 m

Fertility

Wind

Flower type

monoecious

Pollinators

Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoot tips - used as a flavouring in cooked foods^[5][10]. A subtle woodsy flavour^[11]. A refreshing tea is made from the young leaves and twigs^{[4][20][10][19]}. Rich in vitamin C^[11]. It is used as a coffee substitute according to some reports^{[28][29][6][19]}. The fresh leaves have a pleasant balsamic odour and are used as a coffee substitute^[16]. Inner bark - dried, ground into a meal and mixed with cereals for making bread etc^[6][16]. A famine food used when all else fails^[10]. A sweet manna-like substance is exuded from the bark^[10][11]. 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^[17]. Alternatively, the report could be referring to the sap which is used as a sugar-like food^[19].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Douglas fir was often employed medicinally by various native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints^[19]. 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^[17][19]. The poultice is also used to treat injured or dislocated bones^[19]. The resin is used in the treatment of coughs and can be chewed as a treatment for sore throats^[19]. An infusion of the green bark has been used in the treatment of excessive menstruation, bleeding bowels and stomach problems^[19]. An infusion of the leaves has been used as a wash and a sweat bath for rheumatic and paralyzed joints^[19]. An infusion of the young sprouts has been used in the treatment of colds^[19]. An infusion of the twigs or shoots has been used in the treatment of kidney and bladder problems^[19]. A decoction of the buds has been used in the treatment of venereal disease^[19]. Young shoots have been placed in the tips of shoes to keep the feet from perspiring and to prevent athletes foot^[19]. A mouthwash is made by soaking the shoots in cold water^[5].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A light brown dye is obtained from the bark^[3][19]. The bark is a source of tannins^[20][27]. The bark can be used as a cork substitute^[9] and is also used to make fertilizer^[17]. The bark contains pitch, it burns with a lot of heat and almost no smoke, so it is prized as a fuel^[17][19]. The small roots have been used to make baskets^[19]. The plant has insecticidal properties^[9]. A resin is obtained from the trunk, similar to Abies balsamea^[23][24] 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^[9]. The resin can also be used as a caulking material on boats^[19]. A fast growing and fairly wind-resistant tree, it is often used in shelterbelt plantings^[12]. 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^{[15][20][23][27][30][9][14][17]}. It is also used as a good quality fuel^[20][30][19].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche

Canopy

Environment

Range

Western N. America - Canada to California. Occasionally self-sows in Britain^[8].

Habitat

Moist to very dry areas from sea level to near the tree-line in the Rocky mountains^[22]. The best specimens are found on well-drained deep loamy soils with plenty of moisture^[18].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

high

Hardiness

Zone 7+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral

Tolerances

high wind

Wind

Yes

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a moist but not water-logged alluvial soil^[1]. Dislikes calcareous soils^[1]. Trees are a failure on dry hungry soils.^[2]. Whilst they are moderately wind resistant^[7], tall specimens are likely to lose their crowns once they are more than 30 metres tall in all but the most sheltered areas^[12]. A very ornamental tree^[1], it is the most cultivated timber tree in the world and is extensively used for re-afforestation in Britain^[14]. There are several named varieties selected for their ornamental value^[13]. Trees can be established in light shade but this must be removed in the first few years or growth will suffer^[12]. Very slow growing for its first few years, growth soon becomes extremely fast with new shoots of up to 1.2 metres a year^[12]. This annual increase can be maintained for many years^[12]. Trees in sheltered Scottish valleys have reached 55 metres in 100 years^[14]. New growth takes place from May to July^[12]. The trees require abundant rainfall for good growth^[2][21]. 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^[14]. Trees are very long-lived, specimens over 1,000 years old are known^[17]. Seed production commences when trees are about 10 years old, though good production takes another 15 - 20 years^[18]. Good crops are produced about every 6 years^[18]. This tree is a pioneer species because it cannot reproduce under its own canopy^[17]. The bark on mature trees can be 30cm thick, and this insulates the trunks from the heat of forest fires^[16]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus^[26][14]. Young growth can be damaged by late frosts^[26]. The leaves have a strong sweet fruity aroma^[12].

Related plants

• Abies albaSilver Fir
• Abies amabilisRed Fir
• Abies balsameaBalsam Fir
• Abies cephalonicaGrecian Fir

References

1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3

2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

   ↩1↩2

3. Gunther. E. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-295-95258-X

   ↩

4. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

   ↩

5. Bryan. J. and Castle. C. Edible Ornamental Garden. Pitman Publishing 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-273-00098-5

   ↩1↩2

6. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

   ↩1↩2

7. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

   ↩

8. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

   ↩

9. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4

10. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

11. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

12. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

13. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

14. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

15. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

16. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

17. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

18. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3

19. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13↩14↩15↩16↩17↩18

20. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

21. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

    ↩

22. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩

23. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

24. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩

25. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

26. Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X

    ↩1↩2

27. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2

28. Balls. E. K. Early Uses of Californian Plants. University of California Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-520-00072-2

    ↩

29. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩

30. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

    ↩1↩2