Douglas Fir plant profile
Pseudotsuga menziesii
A perennial tree for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Douglas Fir
Plant this conifer in early spring, before new growth begins, or in early fall. Extension guidance rates those two windows as best because roots can establish before summer heat or a hard freeze; container or balled-and-burlapped stock goes in during these cooler, low-stress periods.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Douglas Fir in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 5 to 8
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 144 to 240 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 4a to 6bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: needle cast, cooley spruce gall adelgid, scale, intolerant of heat and drought.
Next steps
Continue with Douglas Fir
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.
- Is Fall for Planting?
Penn State Extension. Supports planting reference. Checked 2026-06-18.