What Two Plants Can Be Found in a Temperate Rainforest?

Identification

• The Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menzeisii), an evergreen conifer from the pine family, and the Coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) are among the plants seen in North American temperate rainforests. The Coastal redwood, also called the California redwood, is the tallest species of tree in the world, according to Floridata website.

Habitat

• Coastal redwood trees grow at altitudes from sea level to 3,000 feet above sea level and occur mostly in isolated stands along the Pacific coast. The habitat has extremely dense fog with an annual precipitation of nearly 120 inches. Among the most widely growing trees in North America, the natural habitat of the Douglas fir ranges from British Columbia to Northern Mexico. Precipitation in these regions ranges from 15 to 100 inches annually. Douglas firs thrive from sea level to 10,000 feet above sea level.

Description

• Douglas firs are the tallest pine tree variety with a potential height of 300 feet or more and trunk diameters of 15 feet or more. The straight trunk has gray, smooth bark that turns reddish-brown on mature trees. The 1-inch-long, gray-green needles are soft textured and grow in the form of a bottle brush and the oval cones are 2 to 4 inches long.

  Under optimal conditions, coastal redwoods can grow up to 300 feet fall with a 20-foot trunk diameter. The straight trunk widens slightly at the base and has reddish brown, fissured bark. Foliage is overlapping or scale-like and the 1-inch-long cones are purplish-brown.

Growing Conditions

• Best suited to areas of full sun, the Douglas fir prefers a humid climate and is intolerant of drought. Some varieties are more cold tolerant than others. Douglas firs growing on the coast have a higher tolerance for warm weather. The tree is easily propagated with seed. Coastal redwoods also do not thrive in areas with dry or warm weather and grow optimally in humid, foggy climates. The tree is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9 and is easily propagated with cuttings and seed.