Common Name:

General Information

Pseudotsuga macrocarpa is an evergreen tree with a broadly conical crown; it usually grows up to 25 metres tall, exceptionally to 44 metres. The straight, cylindrical bole is usually up to 130cm in diameter, exceptionally to 230cm[, ].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its wood.
Based on comprehensive mapping of localities from herbarium data, the area of ocupancy can be estimated as 315 km² (below the maximum of 500 km² threshold for Endangered), and the population is certainly fragmented. But there is no evidence of decline, save for some reports on there being few larger trees in some localities after fires. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southwest N. America - southern California

Habitat

Slopes, cliffs, and canyons, in chaparral and mixed coniferous forests; at elevations from 200 - 2,400 metres[]. Rocky and well drained soils on the seaward slopes of coastal mountain;s at elevations from 275 - 2,450 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Pseudotsuga macrocarpa grows in southern California, where the climate is warm temperate, with cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. The(annual precipitation ranges from 500 - 1,500mm, with snow occurring only at the higher elevations[].

Pseudotsuga macrocarpa is perfectly suitable for amenity planting and as a specimen tree in gardens and parks in milder climates, but rarely seen outside specialist collections in arboreta and botanic gardens. It grows to a well-shaped, medium sized tree with attractive, large, pendulous seed cones and is worth being introduced and planted more often; obviously in regions with a suitable climate, such as southern Europe, or perhaps New Zealand and parts of Australia[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood of this species is close grained, hard and heavy, but not durable. It would only be suitable for coarse lumber, but is not exploited due to scarcity of the resource and other, more ecological values[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in the autumn to winter in a cold frame so that it is stratified[]. The seed can also be stored dry and sown in late winter. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Seedlings tolerate light shade for their first few years of growth. Cones often fall from the tree with their seed still inside[].
If you have plenty of seed then it can be sown in an outdoor seedbed in early spring[]. Grow the plants on for at least two years in the seedbed before planting them out in late autumn or early spring.