The green of the tree is not its only adornment. The tree trunk also immediately catches the viewer's eye. With the Douglas fir, it becomes impressively tall and strong over the years. The bark undergoes an optical change.

The bark of a Douglas fir darkens with age

No tree species without bark

Usually the focus is on the leaves, flowers or fruits. The bark, on the other hand, does not always attract attention, although it is just as interesting and provides a color contrast.

Each tree species has its own characteristics, which are reflected in the color and texture of the bark. Each tree of the same species has these characteristics, with the "living conditions" providing slight, individual variations.

The bark of the Douglas fir changes over the years and becomes more and more interesting along the way. Not only does it change colour, its structure also undergoes a serious change.

The bark of young trees

The bark of a young Douglas fir has the following characteristics that clearly distinguish it from an older specimen:

  • the surface is mostly very smooth
  • she has a lot of resin bumps
  • the coloring is dark grey

The escaping resin exudes a pleasant, citrusy scent.

The bark of an old Douglas fir

An aging Douglas fir has changed its outer skin so much that nothing is reminiscent of the formerly young bark:

  • the coloring has become darker
  • is now reddish brown
  • the bark becomes thicker and thicker over time
  • a bark forms
  • this is traversed by many deep cracks

Douglas fir or spruce? The bark gives it away!

Douglas fir and spruce look confusingly similar at first glance. If the differences are not known, they are usually not perceived as such. This is why these two tree species are difficult for laypeople to tell apart. Here the bark can provide support to identify the tree in question.

  • both barks have a similar coloration
  • the difference is reflected in the pattern/indentation
  • Douglas fir has many long and deep grooves
  • their bark is quite firm
  • the bark of the spruce, on the other hand, has no grooves
  • their bark is more likely to have burst into small, round plaques
  • some of them can be easily peeled off by hand

Category:

Trees