Douglas-fir
October 21, 2022
By Adam Huggins
Douglas-fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii subsp. menziesii
- Hul’qumi’num Name: ts’sey’
- Description: Coniferous tree with thick ridged bark. Needles are flat and spirally arranged. Cones have papery scales with 3-forked bracts extending from each scale.
- Habitat: This is the dominant tree in our coastal forests. It grows on all but the wettest soils.
- Harvest: Green tips from March-June
- Edibility: Young fir tips are high in vitamin C and can be collected in spring and eaten raw or dried for tea.
- Fun Fact: The tallest Douglas-firs today are around 90m tall. It is believed that historically they would reach 120m and live up to 1300 years.