North Pacific Maritime Dry-Mesic Douglas-fir-Western Hemlock Forest
These are the major lowland conifer forests found in foothills and mountains of western Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. They occur in a matrix with the moist-site Douglas-fir - western hemlock forest system. Historically they were characterized by tall Douglas-fir forests, with western hemlock codominant or occasional in the understory, sometimes along with grand fir or western red-cedar, although many have become conifer plantations. These dry-site stands have understory species such as salal, Oregon-grape, rhododendron, and twinflower with the ubiquitous swordfern. For more information, see NatureServe Explorer.
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