Please ID Me..

[jcphoto]

I'm hoping someone can tell me what type of tree this is. (im assuming some type of pine?) I found it near a cliff in south eastern British Columbia Canada. I have a book on BC area trees, but cant seem to match this to any adult examples i've seen.

Also I was wondering what the best way to prune it would be. Should I cut each shoot back alot to thicken the growth up? or just maintain each existing shoot at the desired length?

Is bonsai even possible with this type of tree?

Any help you can give me is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Joe

 

[Anonymous User]

fir, possibly hemlock, does the needle have a stem and is there two silver/white lines on the underside of the needles? It does not look overly healthy.




Will

 

[jcphoto]

does the needle have a stem and is there two silver/white lines on the underside of the needles?

Im not exactly sure what you mean about the needles having a stem. From what I can see the needles seem to join flush with the branch, when I pulled a few off a pruned branch they had a 2mm hair where they were joined to the branch.(not sure if im using the correct terms for branch/stem etc.)

The needles DO have two white lines running their length, and maybe what seems to be a slight groove between them.

Thanks for your help Will!

Joe

 

[Anonymous User]

Glad to help. Since you confirmed that it has two white lines under the needles, yew is eliminated.

Between fir and hemlock, the hemlock needle is connected to the branch by a small stem, the fir's needles have no small stem, so look at the base of the needle with a magnifying glass and you should have your answer. As to what type of fir or hemlock, search and see which are native to your area.





Will

 

[Boondock]

that's a Fir

Its may be impossible to identify it to a species until it produces cones

 

[Vance Wood]

It is Douglas Fir, no question in my mind about it. Leave it alone till it starts putting on new growth and the color improves. They make good bonsai but a little tricky in that they do not back bud well.