The Douglas fir is the state tree of Oregon and a valuable resource for the lumber and paper industries, providing jobs for many Oregonians. It grows primarily in the western half of the state and has a distinctive triangular shape with flat needles and brown cones. Logging led to a boom in the economy, but conservation efforts have since been implemented to ensure the tree’s survival.
The state tree of Oregon is the Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii. A key component of Oregon’s lumber industry, Douglas fir has long been a highly valuable resource to the people of the state. The wood of this tree is strong and dense and is used in the construction industry and paper industry. These industries create jobs and provide a livelihood for many Oregonians.
First identified by Scottish botanist David Douglas in 1826, Douglas fir grows primarily in the western half of the state of Oregon. The state is divided north to south by the Cascade Range, with coastal areas receiving the most moisture throughout the year. This coastal climate and rich soil are ideal for growing Douglas fir. Areas east of the Cascade Mountains are drier and are home to another Douglas fir species, Pseudotsuga glauca.
In the early 1900s, settlers began clearing Douglas fir trees from large areas of forest land in western Oregon. The harvested timber was loaded onto railroad cars for transport to other parts of the country or was carried down rivers to paper mills. Logs were also loaded onto ships and exported to other countries. Logging led to a boom in the economy, and in 1936 the state legislature voted to make the Douglas fir the state tree of Oregon. Since 1940, Oregon has been the leading producer of lumber in the United States.
Capable of reaching heights of 250 feet (76.2 m), the Oregon state tree can also reach diameters greater than 10 feet (3 m). The body of the whole tree has a triangular shape, and each branch is surrounded by rows of flat needles. Immature cones on Douglas fir are green, but at maturity the cones turn brown. The cones have a distinctive pattern of toothed extensions on the outside of the scales. The seeds inside the cones spread across the area once the cone opens.
Douglas fir bark is gray and very thick. This thick bark helps these trees survive and re-seed following a fire. Douglas fir regrowth and conservation are very important to the people of Oregon. The depletion of public forest lands for logging slowed in the 1950s. The trees for the harvest are planted on private land owned by logging companies. To ensure that citizens can enjoy the Oregon State Tree, more trees are planted than are harvested.
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