Native Habitat:
Moist forests, shaded slopes, and riparian areas.
 
Bloom Time:
Spring (cones produced March – May)
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Evergreen conifer, 150–200 feet tall (in native forests) with a conical crown and drooping branchlets. Needles are flat, soft, and dark green with two white bands on the underside. Produces small cones along upper branches.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Partial shade to full sun; thrives in moist, well-drained soils rich in organic matter. Prefers cool, humid environments and tolerates occasional seasonal wetness.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Polystichum munitum, Tolmiea menziesii, Athyrium filix-femina, Adiantum pedatum, Tiarella trifoliata.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Provides dramatic vertical structure, evergreen canopy, and layered understory habitat in urban woodlands, parks, and naturalized landscapes. Works well as a specimen tree, in layered native plantings, or for shade and habitat creation.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Provides shelter and nesting habitat for birds and small mammals. Needles and seeds feed certain birds and insects. Contributes to forest microhabitat and understory moisture retention.
 
Historical Use:
Used by Indigenous peoples for construction, tools, and medicinal purposes. Valued ornamentally for its tall, graceful form, evergreen foliage, and ecological function in native landscapes and restoration plantings.