This beautiful golden douglas fir tree was planted by Mr. Harold Cooper as a seedling in the 1970’s. It was one of numerous Pseudotsuga menziesii seedlings that were planted to reforest the land for his logging company. Mr. Cooper, who is now in his 90’s, noted that the tree has been a golden color since it was planted. Mike spotted the tree on the hillside in Morton, Washington while traveling back from a visit with Bob Fincham at the Coenosium Gardens in Eatonville. Mr. Cooper’s son graciously provided a tree climber to harvest cuttings for grafting. The cuttings of this new cultivar ‘Cooper’s Torch’ were obtained in January 2019, and they pushed vigorously and beautifully, retaining their intense golden color! Interestingly, one can observe a slower growth rate of this golden tree than the other Douglas fir trees planted at the same time on the hillside, presumably because this specimen with it’s golden color, has less chlorophyll. This “outstanding” golden Douglas fir tree can be seen from Google Earth!
