Giúis Dhuchlais
Latin name: Pseudotsuga menziesii
The Douglas-fir is an evergreen tree. It is also coniferous. This means that is has cones.
It is named after David Douglas. He brought it to Europe from North America in 1827.
It is called a 'fir' tree, but it's not a true fir tree!
Douglas Fir
Photograph of a Douglas Fir taken in Woodstock Estate, Inistioge, County Kilkenny
Douglas Fir
Douglas Fir
Photograph of a Douglas Fir taken in Woodstock Estate, Inistioge, County Kilkenny
The cones of a Douglas-fir are different from true fir trees. They have papery scales. Between each scale is a small, brown leaf. This is called a 'bract'.
As the Douglas-fir grows, the bark changes colour. It turns from grey to red. Its leaves look just like a row of needles. Don’t worry, they’re very soft to touch!
The cones break up when ripe. All the seeds are let go.
Have you ever seen a Douglas-fir? Could you guess how tall they grow?
The tallest tree in Ireland is a Douglas-fir. It is growing in Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow. It is 56 metres high!
The wood from Douglas-firs is very tough. It is very used for building garden furniture and boats.
Deer love to eat the shoots before the leaves grow!