Douglas Fir vs Fraser Fir - TreeTime.ca

Douglas Fir vs Fraser Fir

Abies fraseri

Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Fraser Fir
Douglas Fir

Fraser Fir is a great choice for a Christmas tree, or as an addition to your landscape. It retains its needles when cut, has good branch strength, and grows into the classic conical Christmas tree shape. When the cones are young they emerge purple, which adds an additional splash of colour to the tree.

Fraser Fir may suffer in warmer climates, we do not recommend this tree in hardiness zones 7 or higher. It is very similar to Balsam Fir, and can freely be used as a substitute.

Douglas Fir is a large coniferous tree with a pyramidal shaped crown.

This attractive feature tree, with its distinctive drooping cones, is perfect for any grower who has lots of space and lives in a warm enough region. Douglas Firs make exceptional Christmas trees.

It is not suitable to all growing environments. Do some research and make sure this tree is right for you.

Our seed source is typically from the interior of BC and rocky mountain areas. We do not produce coastal seed source Douglas Fir as it is better suited to its native range and some taxonomists believe the two seed sources might be distinct.

Fraser Fir Quick Facts

Douglas Fir Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 4a
Height: 12 m (40 ft)
Height: 61 m (200 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 8 m (26 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: none


Fall colour: green
Bark: thin, smooth, gray on young trees. Thick and corky on older trees
Cones: orange-brown cones with seed wing visible sticking out of the bracts
Seeds: winged seed within cones
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: frasers balsam fir, frasier fir, she balsam, southern balsam fir
Other Names: oregon pine