How to Plant Douglas Fir From Seed

Here is a fun experiment to try: growing trees from cones! If you can get a seed from a cone to germinate, you’ve won the lottery, because a tree has to put out many seeds in many cones just to get a few to succeed. Here’s how to do it…

Gather cones from a mature Douglas fir tree. Look for the “mousetails” — these are called reflexed bracts and are unique to Douglas fir.

Collect brownish to purplish mature cones from the lower branches of the tree. In the Pacific NW, collect from August to October.

Preparing the Seeds

Once collected, the cones should be placed in a warm dry area. After several days, as the cones dry out, they will release the seeds on their own. The seeds come out of
the winged part. Alternatively, the seeds can be carefully cut out using a razor (parental supervision!)

Separate the seeds and soak them in water for 24 hours. Remove seeds that float to
the top and discard. These are empty seeds that won’t produce a tree.

Planting the Seeds

Sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep into pots with sandy soil, so that it drains well. Place pot in a sunny location. If you are lucky, you should see sprouts in about three weeks!

Caring for the Young Tree

Care for your little Douglas fir! Keep it moist. As the seedling grows and becomes stronger you can transplant it into the ground. Transplant when the tree is dormant and the soil is cool and moist, from December to April, but not during freezing temperatures.

Like all young things, a young tree needs extra care. Protect it from pests, mow grass around so it doesn’t compete for nutrients, and prune lower branches periodically. Allow room for growth both up and out. As these trees do not react well to drought, keep the soil damp, but not waterlogged.

Good luck!