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Interesting Facts About Washington State’s Most Common Trees

By: Impeccable Landscapes       January 4, 2017

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Have you ever walked through one of Washington State’s many gorgeous forests and been in total awe of the surroundings? As tall tree service experts in Spokane, we think about this kind of thing a lot. The trees we have here are absolutely beautiful, not to mention plentiful! Of Washington State’s 43 million acres of land, approximately 21 million acres are forested, according to a report published by the State Department of Natural Resources.

Learning more about the trees that make up our wonderful state and beautiful forests is always a good idea, whether you’re looking for ways to improve your landscaping or simply want to be more knowledgeable the next time you go on a hike.

Keep reading to learn more about which trees are most common in Washington and how Impeccable Landscapes can help you with tree trimming, pruning, and care of the trees that already exist on your property!

Evergreen Vs. Deciduous Tall Trees

No matter what time of year you decide to go walking around in one of Washington’s forests, it’s likely that you’ll see a lot of green. Why? Well, as the Washington Forest Protection Association reports, “forests of the Pacific Northwest contain more evergreens than almost anywhere in the United States.” As you may remember from your middle school science classes, evergreen trees are those that have needles instead of leaves, meaning they stay green all year long, while deciduous trees are those that have leaves which fall to the ground at the end of the growing season. When you consider the fact that evergreens prefer an environment that has cool, wet winters and moderate summers, it’s no surprise that so many of them can be found here in Washington state.


Common Tall Trees You’ll See In Washington Forests

Now that we know the type of trees that you’re most likely to see in Washington forests, it’s time to take a deeper dive into the specific species of evergreens that you’re likely to encounter in our region of the country.

  1. Western Hemlock – Did you know that this is the State Tree of Washington? See, you’re learning things already! This tree features short, flat needles that have rounded tips. You can also identify this tree by the two white lines that run down the length of the underside of its needles. When logged, the Western Hemlock is used for lumber, newsprint, and other paper products.
  2. Douglas Fir – This popular evergreen tree can be identified by the yellow-green shade of its inch-long needles. The cones of this tree grow to be fairly long, around four inches, and have pitchfork-shaped bracts covering up the seeds.
  3. Western Red Cedar – If you see an evergreen tree with tiny, flat, needles growing in alternating pairs, it’s likely that you’ve happened upon a Western Red Cedar. This tree is also known for having stringy bark that’s easy to pull off in long, hairy strips. When logged, this tree is used for shingles, decking, caskets, and siding.
  4. Sitka Spruce – We like this tree because of how fun the name is to say…and also because of the beautiful aesthetic given off by its bluish-green needles. The needles of this evergreen are known to be quite sharp, stiff, and grown in a circular pattern around the twigs. Unfortunately, this tree is a favorite snack of the Spruce budworms, which means that you’ll often see them with injured tops. When logged, the Sitka Spruce is used for paper, musical instruments, and ladders.
  5. Ponderosa Pine – Have you ever come across an evergreen tree that had needles that were much longer than its neighbors? If those needles were also yellow-green and somewhat soft, it’s likely that you were looking at a Ponderosa Pine! When logged, this tree is used for lumber, decorative molding, furniture, and pilings.


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Our Tall Tree Service Helps Keep Your Landscaping Healthy!

We hope that this post has providing you with a brief but interesting look at the beautiful trees that make up our world here in the Pacific Northwest. If you’re looking for help in deciding which trees will be best to plant in your residential yard or on your commercial property, contact Impeccable Landscapes today! We have many years experienced with tall tree service, including trimming and removal, and we’d be happy to help you take good care of your trees.


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