Douglas Fir Tree

Pseudotsuga menziesii

Nature Hills Nursery

Iconic Doug Fir with Distinctive Forked Cone Bracts that Set It Apart from All Other Conifers
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 4-6
Grows 50-60 ft Tall, 20-30 ft Wide
Evergreen Year-Round Color and Privacy
Fast-Growing in Full Sun

$18⁹⁹

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Plant Size

Quart Container #3 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Plant your Douglas Fir in a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for the best growth and needle density. While they can tolerate partial shade, insufficient light often leads to a "leggy" appearance with thinner branches and slower growth.
Soil: These trees prefer deep, well drained, moist soil that is slightly acidic. If you have heavy clay that holds water like a sponge, mix in organic compost or plant on a slight mound to ensure the roots do not sit in standing water and rot.

Watering Requirements

During the first two growing seasons, provide 10 to 15 gallons of water per week to help the root system establish itself in the native soil. Once mature, Douglas Firs are remarkably drought tolerant, but inconsistent moisture during extreme heat can lead to needle drop or stunted new growth. Aim for deep, infrequent soakings rather than light sprinkles to encourage the roots to grow deep into the earth.

Pruning Tips

Douglas Firs rarely require pruning because they naturally maintain a beautiful pyramidal shape as they age. If you need to manage the size or remove dead wood, do so in late winter while the tree is still dormant to prevent sap bleeding and stress. Think of pruning like a light trim; only remove the tips of the branches to encourage fuller "filling out" without disrupting the central leader branch that dictates the tree's height.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release evergreen fertilizer in early spring just as the new buds begin to swell. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer or fall, as this can stimulate soft new growth that will not have time to harden off before the first hard freeze. This tender growth is easily killed by winter temperatures, which can invite disease or pests into the main structure of the tree.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Evergreen, Hedge/Screen, Drought resistant, Non-invasive, Fast-growing, Attracts pollinators
Hardiness Zone	4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	50-60 ft
Width	20-30 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Preferred Soil	Loamy, Peaty
Growth Rate	Fast
Blooms In	Spring
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Botanical Name	Pseudotsuga menziesii
Species	menziesii
Class	Pinopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Elegant, Soft-Needled Douglas Fir Tree

Beautifully Soft Needles
Outstanding Pyramidal Form
Fast Growing
Large Scale Tree
Native Evergreen from Western North America
Deer Seem to Leave Douglas Fir Alone

For a robust accent in your landscape, try the excellent evergreen tree Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). It features a very symmetrical, upright pyramidal shape and looks great in every season. It even smells wonderful!

You might see the name sometimes written as Douglas-Fir or Douglasfir, because it's actually not a Fir. This beautiful tree is actually a member of the genus Pseudotsuga, which means "False Hemlock".

Any way you want to call it, we bet you'll love running your hand over the soft, blue-green needles. They aren't stiff and pokey like other evergreens. Kids like to pet them, too.

This is also one of the fastest growing evergreen trees available. It will grow about 3 feet a year to quickly provide a wonderful focal point or privacy screen for you and your family.

It's lovely in its natural form, so no need to prune. Older trees can develop those romantic, pendulous lower branches that sway in the slightest breeze.

Create fun memories by decorating it for Christmas every year! Cute pine cones grow 3 - 4 inches long and can be used for fall and winter decorations, too.

Local birds love to nest in the shelter of a Douglas Fir. But deer seem to leave this tree alone.

Native Douglas Fir trees are found in the wild; from the slopes of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Northwest. The oldest specimen is nearly 1500 years old. As it ages, the fissured, reddish-brown bark brings a tremendous amount of visual interest.

It's a particularly hardy tree and grows in a variety of soils. For a fast-growing, hardy evergreen tree that is versatile and care free, you can't go wrong with a Douglas Fir. Order yours today!

How to Use Douglas Fir in the Landscape

This is a terrific specimen plant or focal point for larger landscapes. If you have the space, try an informal group of 3, 5 or 7 in an oversized lawn planting.

Imagine you are recreating the look of the Mountain West, and let your creativity run wild.

For Douglas Firs to touch and make a solid screen, plant them 12 to 15 feet apart. For the trees to stand alone as individual trees, give them at least 18 feet apart.

For the most natural look, try to vary the distances between them, and don't plant them in a straight line. Rather, stagger the trees off-center, keeping the design loose.

Keep your new trees in their nursery containers and play around with the spacing. Far easier to move potted plants around to make sure you love the design, before you plant your trees in your soil. It's a good idea to check from various vantage points.

Site this planting where you'll enjoy it from your deck. You want to be able to see it from inside your home. Leave room for a rustic fire pit, hammock or picnic table in the shade of your trees.

Douglas Fir has a big personality and can carry a "lot of look." Try mixing it with other evergreens, including smaller upright Junipers and Pine trees. Don't forget about the rounded evergreen shrubs, like Mugo Pine to soften the foreground.

They make a magnificent backdrop for smaller accent trees, like Eastern Redbud, Pink Flowering Dogwood or Japanese Maple. They stand up to exterior sculpture without stealing the show.

Partner with rugged Ornamental Grasses and the bright stems of Red Twigged Dogwood. Or, use a complementary color - like the chartreuse green of First Editions® Tiger Eyes® Sumac.

Another classic use for these trees is as windbreaks and in shelterbelts. Plant them in staggered, zig-zagging rows to create an interesting living fence to cut down on wind and blowing snow in big, open areas. Keep them tightly planted about 12 feet apart for the fastest screen.

It's best practice to mix other plants in these windbreaks, and we've got a huge variety of trees and large shrubs that will work together beautifully. Be sure to add Lilacs for fragrance and flowers.

Many like to use soft and natural looking Douglas Fir to screen out ugly views and buildings along an existing fence. No matter how you install your planting design, you'll easily create a beautiful backdrop for your property.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Plant Douglas Fir where it will receive at least 4 hours of sunlight a day. They love cooler climates.

They do demand a very well-drained soil, or they will not perform well for you. Moist, well-drained soils are best.

They won't tolerate standing water. If you see puddles that remain on your planting site, you'll need to improve the drainage. Bring in additional soil and mound it up 24 inches above the soil line. Plant directly in that mound.

Careful, regular watering is needed for the entire first season to keep your plants stress free. Once established, they can be very drought tolerant. After all, you will see them growing right out of the rocks in the Rocky Mountains.

It's usually best to allow the plants to grow naturally, but you can shorten up the new growth by simply breaking or snipping part of that new expanding growth, if needed. You could also prune back excessive long growth from the previous season in early spring, if necessary.

You'll love having your own living Christmas Tree in your landscape. Enjoy this magnificent native evergreen. Order today!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart to plant douglas fir trees?

Plant Douglas Fir trees 20-30 feet apart for specimen plantings, or 10-15 feet apart for privacy screens. These fast-growing evergreens reach 3 feet of growth annually and develop into large-scale trees. Consider their mature size and give them adequate room to showcase their natural pyramidal form.

How fast do fir trees grow?

Douglas Fir trees grow approximately 3 feet per year, making them one of the fastest-growing evergreens available. This rapid growth quickly creates an impressive focal point or privacy screen. For reliable, fast-growing fir trees, shop at Nature Hills.

Does a Douglas Fir need full sun, partial shade, or can it tolerate different light conditions?

Douglas Fir thrives in full sun to partial shade, showing excellent adaptability to various light conditions. This hardy native evergreen grows successfully across different exposures, from Rocky Mountain slopes to Pacific Northwest forests. Plant yours in a location with at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight for optimal growth.

Are Douglas Fir trees deer resistant?

Yes, Douglas Fir trees are deer resistant. Deer typically avoid browsing on these evergreens, making them an excellent choice for areas with deer pressure. The soft blue-green needles that humans find pleasant to touch apparently don't appeal to deer palates.

What size container will my Douglas Fir tree arrive in and how is it shipped?

Douglas Fir trees from Nature Hills arrive in containers sized according to the plant's maturity, typically ranging from 1-gallon to larger sizes. They're carefully packaged and shipped via ground transport to ensure the root system stays intact. Check the specific container size listed on the product page at naturehills.com before ordering.

Douglas Fir Tree

Pseudotsuga menziesii