Douglas Fir is Canada's largest tree. It is found throughout the southern half of British Columbia and extends into south-western Alberta. The species reaches its northern limit near the Queen Charlotte Islands.


The sapwood is light in color and of narrow width. The heartwood ranges from yellowish to reddish-brown. Earlywood and latewood have a pronounced difference in color, the latewood having darker, more sharply defined bands. This color difference results in a distinctive grain pattern when flat-sawn. The wood has a fine to medium texture, straight grain and is non-porous.


This species is one of Canada's strongest commercial softwoods with high bending strength, shear strength and stiffness. Its hardness and high resistance to abrasion make it suitable for uses where wear is a factor. Its heartwood is moderately decay resistant and the wood treats moderately well.


Douglas Fir dries easily and rapidly, with little tendency to check and with good dimensional stability. It machines reasonably well, has excellent turning proerties, glues well and has moderate nail and screw holding ability. It can be stained or painted to a very good finish.


Density (air dry average): 540 kg/cubic meters
Specific gravity (oven dry average): 0.51
Modulus of elasticity: 13 500 MPa
Modulus of rupture: 88.6 MPa