Conifer Tree Identification

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Conifer Tree Identification

• Mr. Todd Rightmire

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Douglas FirPseudotsuga menziessi

• Leaveslinear, 1-1 ½ long
• Small stomatal bloom
• Red pointed buds with overlapping bud scales
• Cones with a bract (modified leaf) and appear as
  a pitchfork
• Bark
• Cross section has alternating layers of reddish
  brown and corky cream colored tissue
• Tall, straight trees, fast growing
• Below 2,000 ft elevation

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Western HemlockTsuga heterophylla

• heterophylla means different leaves
• Leaves differing lengths
• No stomatal bloom on top, two below
• Short, scattered alternate leaves (1/4-3/4)
• Cones less than 1 in length
• Shade tolerant

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Mountain HemlockTsuga mertensiana

• Leaves short ½- ¾
• Stomatal bloom on all sides
• Star like clusters
• Cones are 1-3 with woody thin scales (larger
  than W. Hemlock)
• High elevation 4,000 ft.
• Narrow like crown

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Ponderosa PinePinus ponderosa

• Leaves 5-10 long in groups of 2-3 (fascicles)
• Shade intolerant
• Buds are shiny with resin
• Cones 2 years to mature. Round shape.
• Tall and large diameter
• Bark is thick fire resistant

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Lodgepole PinePinus contorta

• Leaves 2 per fascicle
• 1 ½ 3
• Cones curved with twig
• Fire opens cones
• Usually drier climates
• Slow growing

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Western White PinePinus moticola

• Moticola mountain growing
• Leaves 5 per fascicle 2-4 long
• Stomatal bloom on ventral (inner) surface only
• Bark thin
• Cones large, cylinder shape, curved

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Sitka SprucePicea sitchensis

• Leaves ½- 1 3/8
• Sharp and pointed
• Triangular (does not roll)
• Stomatal bloom 1 side
• Found below 1800 ft.
• Bark thin, scaly, grayish

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Engelmann SprucePicea engelmanni

• Leaves 1 long, slender, pointed, point forward
• 4 sided (does roll)
• Strong odor when crushed
• Cones 1 2 ½
• Scaly, small, ragged tips

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Western LarchLarix occidentalis

• Deciduous conifer
• Shade intolerant
• Leaves grow on nodules
• Clusters of 12-40
• Fast growing
• Turns yellow, orange, red

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Noble FirAbies procera

• Leaves ¾-1 ¼ on upperside of twig
• Groove on upper surface
• Stomatal bloom on all surfaces
• Cones 4-6 on top of branch
• Bracts are extended and point downward

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Grand FirAbies grandis

• Leaves linear and on a flat plane.
• Stomatal bloom on bottom (2)
• ¾-2
• Grow on 2 rows
• Cones smallest of the true firs
• 2 ½-4 tall
• Bracts do not protrude
• Resinous buds

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Pacific Silver FirAbies amabillis

• Leaves linear ¾-1 ½
• Grooved, and notched at tip
• Stomatal bloom only on bottom
• Clustered on upper side
• Hockey stick
• Buds groups of 3s at tips
• Gray pitch resin
• Cones barrel shaped
• 3 ½ 6 tall

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Western Red CedarThuja plicata

• Leaves scale-like, small or no bracts
• Butterfly or bow ties stomatal bloom on underside
• Cones cylinder, small
• Likes wet areas
• Bark thin, peeling, stringy, fibrous shreds

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Alaskan Yellow CedarChamaecyparis nootkatensis

• Leaves tiny bracts on scales
• No stomatal bloom markings
• Yellowish-green
• Cones are round and pointed
• Weeping look
• Little commercial value mostly landscaping
• 2,000-7,000 feet