The name says it all; Pseudotsuga means "sort of a hemlock". Douglas-fir is not a fir at all, and its cones, hanging from the branches, are obviously different from the upright cones of the firs. But if the Douglas-fir does not really have a family, it certainly has a reputation.

These magnificent trees are arguably the largest in Canada. Historical records document specimens which were probably over 120 meters (400 feet) tall, but today, specimens over 90 meters are rare, a testament to the tree's superiority as a provider of lumber.

The most accessible large Douglas-firs are found in Cathedral Grove, Macmillan Provincial Park, on Highway 4 to Port Alberni. Canada's largest living thing is believed to be the Red Creek Fir, a giant with a broken top that stands alone at the edge of a clearcut. It can be reached via a gravel road from Port Renfrew, its 1,000 year life recognized only by a fading handmade sign.