Common PNW Trees
Learn about the most common tree species in the Pacific Northwest and the mushrooms that associate with them.
Conifers
Key Traits
Needles or Scales
Cones
Evergreen
The Western Big 3
Douglas fir is one of the most common trees in the Pacific Northwest. The easiest way to identify this tree is by the 3-forked scales wedged in the cones. The bark of maturing trees having deep furrows is also quite unique. Douglas fir can be found throughout Oregon, Washington and British Columbia and it dominates the western portion of the region.
Douglas fir associates with a large number of mushrooms
Western Hemlock is found extensively throughout western Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. Small, grape-sized cones are one of the most recognizable features. Rather than trying to see the cones in the tree, one can more easily find cones scattered about the ground.
Western hemlock associates with a large number of mushrooms
Western Redcedar is most easily recognized by the wide, scaly leaves that differ from most other conifers which have needle-like leaves. The redcedar is less interesting for mushroom enthusiasts due to its naturally antifungal properties and lacking the mushroom-tree associations of other conifers.
