Oregon’s forests are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems in the world. On the east side of the Cascade mountains there are dry juniper and pine forests.
The west side, features lush old-growth Douglas-fir forests and a fog belt region. The fog belt region, also called the Coast Ecological Province, is the smallest and narrowest forested region in the state, stretching north to south across the entire coastline.
What differentiates the fog belt zone from the rest of the forested zones in Oregon? The summer climate.
While the rest of the state experiences high temperatures and little moisture, the fog belt experiences lower temperatures and increased moisture and humidity.
Topographically, the fog belt sits at relatively low elevation, rising up from sea level to 400 or 500 feet. This climatically and topographically unique region supports highly diverse fauna and flora.
Shorepine
Some common trees one will see in the fog belt include Shorepine, Sitka Spruce, Western Cedar, and Douglas-fir. Shorepine (Pinus contorta) is the only species of pine that grows in the fog belt.
Shorepine grow within a few miles of the ocean and are typically bushy and distorted. The species has specially adapted to grow in rocky sites and sandy soil, such as sand dunes, and surviving powerful salty winds. These trees bare their round, twisted needles in clusters of twos.
Sitka Spruce
Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) trees were once called tideland spruce because they like the cool, foggy environment of the coast.
This species is the largest species of spruce, growing to almost 100 meters tall. The largest Sitka tree in Oregon is found in Clatsop County with a diameter of more than 5 meters.
These trees bare flat needles and thin, light grey bark that easily peels off. The trunk of the Sitka Spruce is buttressed and does not go straight into the ground like lodgepole pines.
Sitka Spruce is named after Sitka Island, now called Baranof Island, off the coast of Alaska. Sitka Spruce is Alaska’s state tree.
Western Redcedar
Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata) trees are the only “cedars” with cones turned up and bent backwards on the branch (this species is not a true cedar species).
Another method of identifying Western Red Cedar trees is by looking at the underside of the foliage. There you will find a tiny shape outlined in white; some say this shape looks like a bowtie or a butterfly.
Western redcedar’s frondlike branches are so dense that some Northwest Native Americans called this tree “shabalup,” which means “dry underneath,” because the branches look like they could shed rain. These trees were the main trees used by the Northwest Native Americans to make canoes.
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is Oregon’s most common tree and the state tree. The coast variety of this tree grows in the fog belt.
The cone of a Douglas fir is very easily identifiable. Only cones from this tree have three-pointed bracts sticking out between the cone scales.
These are said to look like the hind feet and tail of a mouse diving into a hole. The largest Douglas-fir, the Doerner Fir, is located in Coos County and stands at 327 feet tall.
There are many other trees that can be found along the fog belt, as well as many common understory plants. To learn more, pick up a copy of Oregon State University Extension Service’s field guide, Trees to Know in Oregon.
