Pseudotsuga taxifolia

Read about Pseudotsuga taxifolia in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Pseudotsuga taxifolia, Brit.(P. Douglasii, Carr. P. mucronata, Sudw. P. Lindleyana, Carr. Abies Douglasii, Lindl. Abietia Douglasii, Kent). Douglas Spruce. Red Fir. Fig. 3246. Pyramidal tree, attaining 200 ft. and sometimes more, with a trunk becoming 12 ft. diam. clothed with ridged dark red-brown bark: branches horizontal, with pendulous branchlets: lvs. linear, straight or curved, obtuse, slender and flexible, dark green or bluish green, 3/4-1 1/4in. long: staminate catkins orange, pistillate reddish: cones pendulous, oval-ovate, with broad rounded scales and much exserted bracts 2-4 1/2in. long; seed 1/4in. long, with broad wing, light reddish brown. Brit. Col. to Mex., west to Mont, and Colo. S.S. 12:607. G.F. 10:295. Gn. 31, p. 288. R.H. 1868: 151. M.D. 1901:1; 1909, p. 69. G.W. 10, p. 565; 13, p. 411. There are many forms in cult. Var. viridis, Schneid. (P. Douglasii viridis, Schwerin), is the typical green-lvd. rapid-growing form. Var. caesia, Schneid. (P. Douglasii caesia, Schwerin), agrees with the type except that the lvs. are bluish green; it seems to be somewhat hardier. Var. glauca, Schneid. (P. Douglasii glauca, Mayr. P. glauca, Mayr). Of more compact habit: branches more ascending: lvs. shorter, bluish green: cones smaller, with often reflexed bracts. Colo. G.C. III. 36:53. Hardier than the type, but of slower growth. Var. argentea, Schneid. (P. Douglasii argentea, Koster). Similar to the preceding, with almost silvery white foliage. P. Douglasii glauca elegans, Mottet, is scarcely different. R.H. 1914, p. 344. Var. glaucescens, Schneid. (P. glaucescens, Bailly). With bluish white foliage and pendent branchlets. N. Mex. R.H. 1895:88; 1903, p. 208. Var. pendula, Schneid. (P. Douglasii pendula, Engelm.). With pendulous branches and dark green foliage. Var. glauca pendula, Schneid. (P. Douglasii glauca pendula, Beissn.). With pendulous branches and bluish green or bluish white foliage. Var. fastigiata, Schneid. (P. Douglasii fastigiata, Carr.). A narrow conical pyramid with ascending branches and shorter lvs. Var. compacta, Schneid. A compact conical form with short and dense foliage. Var. globosa, Rehd. (P. Douglasii globosa, Beissn.). A dwarf globose form. M.D. 1905, p. 75. Var. Fretsii (P. Douglasii Fretsii, Beissn.). Compact: lvs. very much shortened. Var. Moerheimii (P. Douglasii Moerheimii, Ruijs). With compact habit and finer deeper blue foliage than in the type. There are also some forms with variegated lvs. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

1. REDIRECT Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii