Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii
Douglas-fir
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Family: Pinaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Douglas-fir) is a native California tree in the Pinaceae family, recognized by . Key features are deciduous cones, well-exserted bracts, and larger maximum size.
Douglas-fir is a native conifer found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Ranges, northern and central Sierra Nevada, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern Coast Ranges in mixed-evergreen and mixed-conifer forests at elevations up to 2,200 meters. The tree produces tiny reddish flowers in spring, developing into distinctive seed cones with dramatically protruding bracts. Growing impressively tall with mature trees reaching up to 67 meters high and developing a rounded crown, it features large upper branches that spread broadly. Its needles are 2 to 4 centimeters long, arranged in a distinctive feather-like pattern along the branches. Mature Douglas-fir trees create iconic silhouettes in California's forest landscapes, with massive trunks up to 4.4 meters wide and a stately, rounded canopy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key features are deciduous cones, well-exserted bracts, and larger maximum size.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Widespread in mixed-evergreen, mixed-conifer forests
Elevation: < 2200 m
California counties: Del Norte, El Dorado, Butte, Siskiyou, Shasta, Placer, Nevada, Amador, Napa, Modoc, Marin, Plumas, Humboldt, Trinity, Lake, Mendocino, Tehama, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Mariposa, Sonoma, Monterey, Glenn, San Francisco, Tuolumne, Colusa, San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Sierra, Lassen, Yuba, Fresno
Outside California: to southwestern British Columbia
How to tell it apart
vs Abies: Douglas-fir cones hang down with pitchfork bracts; fir cones stand upright and disintegrate on the tree.; vs Pinus: Douglas-fir needles attach individually to smooth twigs; pine needles come bundled in groups with papery sheaths.; vs Sequoia: Douglas-fir has individual needles and hanging cones; redwood has flat sprays of scale-like leaves and small round cones.; vs Picea: Douglas-fir twigs are smooth after needle drop; spruce twigs have rough, peg-like bumps.; vs Torreya: Douglas-fir has soft needles and hanging cones; California-nutmeg has sharp-tipped needles and plum-like fruits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii native to California?
Yes. Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii grow?
Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii occurs in Del Norte, El Dorado, Butte, Siskiyou, Shasta, Placer, Nevada, Amador and other counties, at elevations of < 2200 m.
What plant family does Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii belong to?
Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii is in the Pinaceae family, genus Pseudotsuga.
What habitat does Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii grow in?
Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii grows in Widespread in mixed-evergreen, mixed-conifer forests.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.