I'm trying to understand what actually criteria make a number specified to a certain area. For example, I've never been able to understand how come Douglas Firs are almost always listed zones 3-6. Here, near Seattle, we are zone 8 yet Douglas firs practically grow like weeds in a year on tilled up dirt. And, there are many large 80ft. Douglas Firs around my neighborhood including a large Western Hemlock(not sure what zone they are) in my back yard. Can someone explain this? :) Thanks!
It was probably a specification for Rocky Mts Douglas-fir that you saw. Coast Douglas-fir grows in zones 7-9.
Thanks Michael. I still find it strange how Seattle can be zone 8 as well as parts of Northern Texas - which is nothing like the PNW. Oh well. :) Thanks.
HI Do you know the ledgend of the mouse tails that hang out of the Douglas fir cones? Anyone?? Regards Doug
Hey why not?? if the mouse tail helps people to id the douglas fir on this continent. Do zones really matter? Maybe being able to Id the tree will help, to Id the Zone The Story ( as I heard it) A long time ago when all things talked there was a very cold winter The mice had no where to go they talked to the great firs The firs opened thier cones and the mice climbed inn to keep warm, However against the agreement a mouse ate the seeds of the fir so the mighty fir closed it's cones traping the mice/ and that is why when you see a Douglas fir there are mice tails hanging out of the cones ;) Regards Doug
Hi Zones to cones As far I can find there is no diffinitive book that states accurately what zones a garden may be in .Zonal listings are a genneral thing. Case in point in the lower mainland of B.C from vancouver to to Hope there are @37 zones ( the toughest area in North America to forcast whether) There fore in my opinion the best way to tell is to check the local flora
Natural distribution of wild plants is affected by multiple factors, winter climate being but one of them. Cultivated plants occur where they have been marketed successfully and struck a nerve with consumers. They are also subject to fashion, with some disappearing because they no longer appeal to popular taste, rather than because the local weather killed them off. Many others, which are known to have been sold recently in a particular area, may be very hard to spot from a sidewalk or car. Learning what may work on a particular site is learned from visiting nurseries, parks, public gardens and other private gardens in the same region, as well as reading about plants and gardening.