Tree · Pinaceae family
Douglas fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii
In short a 10-second read
Douglas fir (tree) grows to 12–50 m tall and 3.5–15 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. Hardy to −34 °C.
× spread 3.5–15 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. Hardy to −34 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average · watering: a lot
Soil: loamy, sandy
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove overlong shoots (April–August).
Planting
container plant: March, October–November
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −34 °C
- Evergreen — green in winter too
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Does Douglas fir tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does Douglas fir need?
At maturity 3.5–15 m wide and 12–50 m tall; recommended spacing 350 cm.
Does Douglas fir survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 28 September 2026.
Show sources (11)
- Slov-lex — nariadenie vlády SR č. 449/2019 Z. z.
- Pergl J. et al. (2016) Black, Grey and Watch Lists of alien species in the Czech Republic, NeoBiota 28 — Appendix
- Nehring S. et al. (2013) BfN-Skripten 352 — Schwarze/Graue Liste
- GBIF — Pseudotsuga menziesii
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox
- Van den Berk
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (species/match)
- Wikipedia (EN)
- RHS - How to grow conifers
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
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