Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca)
This native Utah evergreen is found in our mountains, often on north-facing slopes of canyons in pure or mixed stands. It has short, single needles, pointed buds and cones with distinctive, three-pointed bracts (“mouse-tails”) that protrude from the cone scales. As a young landscape plant it has a thin, open habit but becomes more substantial with age. Douglas fir is a popular Christmas tree. Its needles are soft, not “pokey” like spruces.