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Douglas Fir: The Story of the West’s Most Remarkable Tree
Westerners familiar with their forests may think they know the Douglas fir--but how well do they? Douglas firs are found in the continental northwest from British Columbia to as far south as Oaxaca, Mexico. They flourish in the Cascades, Rocky Mountains, Sierra, and other mountain ranges, as well as in desert valleys.
Incredibly hardy, this tree adopts various strategies to occupy more kinds of habitats than any other native tree, even becoming an uncontrollable invader in some regions, crowding out ponderosa pines, western larch, aspen groves, and mountain grasslands. Yet the utility of this noble species is immense. Douglas firs yield more high-quality construction lumber than any other tree in the world.
Most intriguing of all, perhaps, is that the story of the Douglas fir has gone untold. Douglas Fir fills this literary gap and presents an engaging profile of the Douglas fir and its relationship to people, commerce, culture, and wilderness.
Incredibly hardy, this tree adopts various strategies to occupy more kinds of habitats than any other native tree, even becoming an uncontrollable invader in some regions, crowding out ponderosa pines, western larch, aspen groves, and mountain grasslands. Yet the utility of this noble species is immense. Douglas firs yield more high-quality construction lumber than any other tree in the world.
Most intriguing of all, perhaps, is that the story of the Douglas fir has gone untold. Douglas Fir fills this literary gap and presents an engaging profile of the Douglas fir and its relationship to people, commerce, culture, and wilderness.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2020
31 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 18 reviews
September 24, 2022
The Douglas-Fir is actually not a fir tree and really shouldn't have been named after David Douglas although he did brings seeds from the Pacific coastal area to England in 1820 and distributed them across the six continents. In fact, today, a 200+ foot Douglas-fir is the tallest tree in the United Kingdom, specifically in Scone, Scotland, Douglas' hometown.
Anyway, the book goes into the differences between the coastal Douglas-fir and the inland Douglas-fir. Coastal from British Columbia to central California while inland is from northern British Columbia south through the united states and even skipping hilltop stands to southern Mexico. The positive and negative aspects of fire especially when prescribed burning clears the undergrowth. The history of logging, timber, ship building in the Pacific Northwest. The Douglas-fir is a highly versatile wood in which produces most of the wood for human utilization from veneers, timber beams, railroad ties and construction boards.
An interesting aspect is what is called 'root grafting'. The stump of a thinned Douglas-fir gains food from nearby healthy live trees in order to produce a callus to protect the raw stump. In turn, the roots are still alive and process nutrients to share with the other living trees. If it lasts more than a year, the stump may grown a new layer or ring around the outside. One living stump has been found to have added a 2-3" layer in the 87 years since it was cut!
2022-205
Anyway, the book goes into the differences between the coastal Douglas-fir and the inland Douglas-fir. Coastal from British Columbia to central California while inland is from northern British Columbia south through the united states and even skipping hilltop stands to southern Mexico. The positive and negative aspects of fire especially when prescribed burning clears the undergrowth. The history of logging, timber, ship building in the Pacific Northwest. The Douglas-fir is a highly versatile wood in which produces most of the wood for human utilization from veneers, timber beams, railroad ties and construction boards.
An interesting aspect is what is called 'root grafting'. The stump of a thinned Douglas-fir gains food from nearby healthy live trees in order to produce a callus to protect the raw stump. In turn, the roots are still alive and process nutrients to share with the other living trees. If it lasts more than a year, the stump may grown a new layer or ring around the outside. One living stump has been found to have added a 2-3" layer in the 87 years since it was cut!
2022-205
January 2, 2021
Good tidbits. A bit short on the botany of the Douglas Fir, but long on the importance of forest fires to the ecosystem of Western North America. In fact, it reads a bit like a manifesto on forest fires Trojan Horsed in a book on a particular type of tree. Because the Douglas-Fir has two different varieties that behave differently, I found some of the descriptions to be confusing. This may sound pedantic, but I wish there were diagrams explaining the dynamics of forest fires in the different ecosystems. What makes one type of forest fire different from another?
November 7, 2023
Pretty interesting book about the biology of and cultural significance of the iconic tree of the Pacific Northwest. Not too long of a read and I quite enjoyed the fun facts.
June 27, 2021
This is a fascinating book for anyone living near, with or around Douglas Firs, or interested in their history and many uses. It might seem odd to read an entire book about a species of tree (a short book, though), but the useful information about this conifer gushes from the pages. They are everywhere, but so misunderstood. I could not put this down!
October 10, 2020
An interesting book about one of the most useful (and largest) of trees on the West Coast. The book describes the biology and ecology of the tree, and its use by humans. It also discusses the role of fire in clearing out other trees that allowed old growth Douglas-fir to grow so tall.
While engaging, the book reads as a little dry. However, it's a short book, about 140 pages of text with additional sections on where to find notable trees, and a list of references.
While engaging, the book reads as a little dry. However, it's a short book, about 140 pages of text with additional sections on where to find notable trees, and a list of references.
July 11, 2021
3.5 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary
A broad study of the Douglas Fir, including its range, history, uses, and ecology.
Review
As a certified tree hugger, it behooves me to know something about the plants I get up close and personal with, including the trees that grow right outside my house, and that make up much of the Oregon forest. A family member gave me this book, and both thought it would be interesting. That’s partly true.
The book is co-written by Stephen Arno and Carl Fiedler, and it’s clearly early on that one of them loves the Douglas fir and the other isn’t so keen on it. The first couple of chapters are a little divided as a result. They’re also very, very dry, and I’m not sure the authors made the right – if logical – decision by starting in with classification and phenotype. It’s obviously useful to ensure that we understand which tree we’re discussing and where it grows, but it’s just not very interesting – though I was surprised to find that ‘Douglas fir’ is a misnomer, and this isn’t a type of fir – not really a fir at all.
Happily, the book improves in later chapters as it digs into the history of the Douglas fir and how it’s been used over time, including some fairly surprising shipments, as the lumber turned out be strong and durable across a range of climates, and especially suited for ship building.
There’s a lot of factual and historical information, but in some ways, that’s all a cover for the last chapter in the book, which turns out to be a treatise on fire management techniques. To my mind – based on the information in the book itself – it goes a little overboard on the benefits of Native American fire setting, while recognizing that some of those fires got out of control just as modern ones do (though usually on a smaller scale). Overall, though, it’s a cogent argument about the need for change in the Forest Service and a rationale for learning from short and long-term fire history and management.
It’s a fairly short read, so if you’re genuinely interested in one of the Pacific Northwest’s key local tree species, trudge through the first chapters to enjoy and learn from the later ones. It’s informational and educational, if not always riveting.
Summary
A broad study of the Douglas Fir, including its range, history, uses, and ecology.
Review
As a certified tree hugger, it behooves me to know something about the plants I get up close and personal with, including the trees that grow right outside my house, and that make up much of the Oregon forest. A family member gave me this book, and both thought it would be interesting. That’s partly true.
The book is co-written by Stephen Arno and Carl Fiedler, and it’s clearly early on that one of them loves the Douglas fir and the other isn’t so keen on it. The first couple of chapters are a little divided as a result. They’re also very, very dry, and I’m not sure the authors made the right – if logical – decision by starting in with classification and phenotype. It’s obviously useful to ensure that we understand which tree we’re discussing and where it grows, but it’s just not very interesting – though I was surprised to find that ‘Douglas fir’ is a misnomer, and this isn’t a type of fir – not really a fir at all.
Happily, the book improves in later chapters as it digs into the history of the Douglas fir and how it’s been used over time, including some fairly surprising shipments, as the lumber turned out be strong and durable across a range of climates, and especially suited for ship building.
There’s a lot of factual and historical information, but in some ways, that’s all a cover for the last chapter in the book, which turns out to be a treatise on fire management techniques. To my mind – based on the information in the book itself – it goes a little overboard on the benefits of Native American fire setting, while recognizing that some of those fires got out of control just as modern ones do (though usually on a smaller scale). Overall, though, it’s a cogent argument about the need for change in the Forest Service and a rationale for learning from short and long-term fire history and management.
It’s a fairly short read, so if you’re genuinely interested in one of the Pacific Northwest’s key local tree species, trudge through the first chapters to enjoy and learn from the later ones. It’s informational and educational, if not always riveting.
September 17, 2022
I enjoyed this book though I will admit it was dry in places. I never knew I could learn or would want to learn so much about a certain kind of tree. However, having spent good times in the Pacific Northwest, where the Douglas Fir is almost a regional logo and enjoying the unexpected scent (vanilla and citrus notes) of its essential oil (my little vial having been harvested from stands in New Zealand where it's an invasive species), I was drawn in. This wasn't a fast read and definitely wasn't one that I was bursting to share with others. Instead it was a slow and quiet read for contemplative times.
Note: The book isn't just about the tree. It's really about how it's shaped and been shaped by its region and the changes wrought there by humans. The authors make a very good case for the importance of the Douglas fir to any real discussion we want to have about forest fires. The tree also has had a serious impact when it comes to structures, whether on land or sea (ships and boats).
Note: The book isn't just about the tree. It's really about how it's shaped and been shaped by its region and the changes wrought there by humans. The authors make a very good case for the importance of the Douglas fir to any real discussion we want to have about forest fires. The tree also has had a serious impact when it comes to structures, whether on land or sea (ships and boats).
August 30, 2021
I'm bummed I had to bail on this one because a) PNW outdoors fan who loves learning about trees, and b) Douglas Fir trees are remarkable--wide spread but also not a fir tree.
The book reads like a slog through a boring history text. The authors are deeply committed scientists with decades of experience in their field. They really ought to have sought an expert storyteller for their life's work on Douglas Fir trees though.
The book reads like a slog through a boring history text. The authors are deeply committed scientists with decades of experience in their field. They really ought to have sought an expert storyteller for their life's work on Douglas Fir trees though.
November 26, 2021
A detailed read on the ecology and history of the Douglas Fir. It's a quick and efficient read with a ton of facts packed into the shortish book. I do wish it had more detail on the historical uses. Two chapters are devoted to it, but the history buff in me felt like I could read a whole book about it.
July 21, 2021
Had some really interesting facts about the science behind Douglas firs ecology and growth habits, but was lacking in it's acknowledgment and recognition of the importance Coast Salish people played in the cultivation of Douglas firs.
August 29, 2025
The history of European's relationship with these trees is depressing. That part is not the author's fault but contributes to the rating. Also, would have liked to read more about Native American fire management.
April 22, 2021
Read for High Plains Book Award, did learn a lot about the tree which grows in the west.
Read
November 12, 20213.5
December 12, 2021
I enjoyed it ... made me want to plant a few Douglas-Fir. Though .. I don't think the author QUITE had enough material for this novella.
December 26, 2022
tedious. Crammed full, little editing to back it readable.
January 31, 2025
Pretty good. A bit superficial for me, but interesting nonetheless. Gosh I love trees and stuff
August 15, 2025
Informative guide to some forests I thought I knew very well. Feels like a gateway read — I’ll be looking for more.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 18 reviews