Trees of the Pacific Northwest

Bigleaf Maple

The bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) is a large deciduous tree that grows in moist sites. The trunks of older maples support many different species of epiphytes, such as mosses and licorice fern. 1. Large leaf, with three year old for scale. 2. Leaves from a distance 3. Trunk with epiphytes 4. Winged maple seed.

Douglas Fir

The Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is a tall, sturdy conifer that grows on drier microclimates and lives up to a thousand years. It has thick ridged bark and distinctive red buds and cone bracts. 1. Needles with red buds 2. Thick bark 3. “Mouse” like bracts on the seed cones 4. Douglas fir in the forest.

Western Hemlock

The Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) is found most often on decaying wood and nurse logs. It can be identified by the drooping top of the tree, and the varying needle lengths. 1. Varying needle lengths 2. Hemlock bark 3. Hemlock growing on a nurse log. 4. Hemlock cone.

Western RedCedar

The Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata) is a culturally important BC conifer with overlapping scale-like needles. It has soft bark in vertical strips. These trees grow in moist, shaded areas and can live for thousands of years. 1. Overlapping scale-like needles 2. Cedar growing on a nurse log 3. Cedar bark 4. Old growth cedar with pregnant Kathryn

The Western Redcedar is the subject of this painting.

Red Alder

The Red Alder (Alnus rubra) is a nitrogen-fixing deciduous tree, often found as a pioneer species on disturbed sites. It has woody seed cones with winged seeds inside, mottled bark and ridged leaves. 1. Alder in summer 2. Alder bark 3. Alder in winter 4. Alder pollen cone and seed cone.

Arbutus

The Arbutus (Arbutus menziesii) also known as madrone, is an evergreen tree with peeling red bark. 1. Mature arbutus tree 2. Peeling bark 3. Reddish orange fruits 4. Evergreen leaves.

Sitka Spruce (Coming soon)

Vine Maple (Coming soon)

You can also visit the Plants section or the Saprophytes and Mosses section (coming soon), or return to the main plant ecology gallery.