The Douglas fir is part of the conifer family and is native to western North America.
The species is widely planted in Europe for its wood. In the United States, the tree can grow up to 100 metres high, but in the Netherlands it often stays under 50 metres.
Despite its name, it is not a true fir. Douglas fir is known for its cones. Each scale has three teeth that point out and up. The Douglas fir has flexible, aromatic needles that grow up to 2 to 3 cm in length, with two white stripes on the underside.
Due to its useful and widely applicable nature, Douglas fir wood is used in construction, flooring, fencing, etc. Its strength and durability made it a popular choice for ship masts as well.
The species was introduced in the Netherlands in the last quarter of the twentieth century. The tree became a protected Dutch species following the publication of the 2003 Standard List of Dutch Flora.