Description:

A handsome oval-shaped dwarf fir that is globular when young and very slow growing, has dense delicate foliage on fine branchlets, needles are flat soft and thin giving this shrub its fine texture; this conifer enjoys full sun

Ornamental Features

Fletcher's Douglas Fir is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its decidedly oval form. It has attractive bluish-green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring. The needles are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Fletcher's Douglas Fir is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a shapely oval form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Fletcher's Douglas Fir is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Fletcher's Douglas Fir will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.