Oregon's Native Conifers

FORESTRY FACTS J U L Y 2 0 1 9 Oregon’s native conifers Oregon is home to a large number of cone- soniana), western red-cedar (Thuja plicata) and bearing trees. Roughly 30 species are native in Alaska yellow-cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis). some part of the state, making Oregon second only to California as the state with the most na- Below: Oregon’s incense cedar is in the cypress family. tive conifer species. Conifer species of The official state tree, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga one kind or another menziesii), is the state’s most abundant conifer, have adapted to al- dominating forests west of the Cascades. most every climate and soil in Oregon’s diverse geography. In coastal regions drenched by rain and lashed by storms grow stunted shore pine and soar- ing Sitka spruce. In- land, hemlocks survive in the dense shade of mature forests. In the snowy Cascades can be found true firs, mountain hemlock and mountain spruce. At treeline, whitebark pines en- dure long winters and blasting winds. In drier re- Above: The distinctive cone of Douglas-fir, Oregon’s state gions, ponderosa pine dominates, giving way in tree. desert areas to western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis). By contrast, a number of California species reach their northernmost limits in southwest Or- Many conifers are well adapted to frequent, low- egon and can be found in only a few places. This intensity wildfires, particularly in eastern and includes a grove in Curry County of the world’s southern Oregon. The tallest tree species the coast redwood (Sequoia thick bark of mature Baker sempervirens). Oregon is the only other place ponderosa pine helps cypress outside California where these imposing trees them survive low are found in nature. ground fires. Species like Baker cypress Most Oregon conifers belong to the large pine (Hesperocyparis family (Pinaceae), which includes the hemlocks, bakeri) even need fire true firs, spruces, Douglas-fir and pines. The true to open their cones. In cedars of the Old World are also in that family. cities, evergreen coni- Many Oregon trees commonly called cedars are fers are valued for members of the cypress family (Cupressaceae). slowing rainfall runoff Among these are incense cedar (Calocedrus de- all year long. currens), Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis law- Page 1 of 2 FORESTRY FACTS OREGON CONIFERS J U L Y 2 0 1 9 Common name Latin name Common name Latin name Alaska yellow-cedar Callitropsis nootkatensis PINES Baker cypress Hesperocyparis bakeri syn. Gray pine Pinus sabiniana Cupressus bakeri Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi Coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens Knobcone pine Pinus attenuata Incense cedar Calocedrus decurrens Limber pine Pinus flexilis Lodgepole pine Pinus contorta ssp. latifo- MacNab cypress Hesperocyparis macnabiana lia syn. Cupressus macnabiana Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa Port Orford cedar Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Shore pine Pinus contorta ssp. contorta Western juniper Juniperus occidentalis Sugar pine Pinus lambertiana Western white pine Pinus monticola Western red-cedar Thuja plicata Whitebark pine Pinus albicaulis DOUGLAS FIR YEW Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia TRUE FIRS California red fir Abies magnifica Grand fir Abies grandis Noble fir Abies procera Pacific silver fir Abies amabalis Subalpine fir Abies lasiocarpa White fir Abies concolor HEMLOCKS Mountain hemlock Tsuga mertensiana Western hemlock Tsuga heterophylla SPRUCES Brewer spruce Picea breweriana Engelmann spruce Picea engelmannii Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis Right: A ponderosa pine reaches into the blue sky of eastern Oregon, where it is the main forest tree species. Oregon Department of Forestry 2600 State Street Salem, OR 97310 Phone: 503-945-7200 Fax: 503-945-7212 Page 2 of 2 http://www.oregon.gov/ODF .

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