Pseudotsuga menziesii |
Syn. Pseudotsuga taxifolia
Native Region: Western North America
Zone Range: 5-8
Preferred Climate: Full to semi sun; well draining soil
Harvest Date: Saturday 29 August, 2009
Seed count: 20-25
Description:
An important commercial evergreen tree here in the Pacific Northwest. Uniform Pyramidal shaped when young, it loses this form as it matures to become the bare trunked majestic ions of our coast. Soft dark green 2-4 cm long needles are arranged like a bottlebrush. Very popular as Christmas trees for its shape, scent, and needle retention. Grows quickly if planted in full sun and good well draining soil, site adaptable but does not tolerate overly dry or water logged sites. Unique cones have bracts that resemble the backends of mice. Smooth bark when young becoming thick and deeply fissured when mature. Can grow very large 30-100 meters at maturity....but this takes hundreds of years. Drought tolerant when established.
Notes:
A prime wildlife tree providing seed for wildbirds and our native Douglas squirrels. Kestrels nest in the branches of larger trees...their aerial displays are something to behold!
Cultivation:
Soak seed 24 hours. Sow in a resealable baggie with a small amount of sand/peatmoss and/or fine bark mulch for 15-30 days. Give gentle heat to germinate. Easy to grow. Prick out seedlings and give strong indirect light for the first few weeks before hardening off in full to semi sun. Seedlings sprout with abandon in our piles of bark mulch without any care.
|
