British Columbia: BC Conifer ID please

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by johnnyjumpup, May 1, 2010.

  1. johnnyjumpup

    johnnyjumpup Active Member

    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    West Kootenay BC Canada
    Could someone please ID this conifer that is common here in the West Kootenays. I think it might be an interior Douglas fir based on the little 'feathers' on the cone but am not sure. I thought fir cones stood upright and spruce cones hung down. It has only recently dawned on me that a Douglas fir is not a fir. A little slow, there. Thank you.

    By the way, stunning photos of the Wilson fir on Botany Photo of the Day.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. vitog

    vitog Contributor 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,787
    Likes Received:
    271
    Location:
    Burnaby, Canada
    It's definitely a Douglas Fir. The bark and cones are characteristic of that species.
     
  3. 1950Greg

    1950Greg Active Member

    Messages:
    315
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Langley, B.C. Stones throw from old HBC farm.
    What would be the different characteristics between Coastal Douglas Fir and Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir.
     
  4. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    11,419
    Likes Received:
    502
    Location:
    Britain zone 8/9
    So therefore, correctly Douglas-fir, with a hyphen not a space

    Coast Douglas-fir is greener, with on average larger cones (mostly 5-11cm) usually with straight bracts, crushed foliage strongly aromatic, and faster-growing.

    Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir is greyer / bluer, with on average smaller cones (mostly 4-7cm) often (but not always) with recurved bracts, crushed foliage not or only weakly aromatic, and slower-growing.

    Once you get your eye in, the crown form also differs markedly, but it isn't too easy to describe. Johnny's tree is Coast Douglas-fir.

    Cones; subsp. menziesii (Coast; left) subsp. glauca (Rocky Mts; right)
     

    Attached Files:

Share This Page