Western hemlock is codominant with Sitka spruce in coastal for- 
ests. Like spruce, it volunteers on well-drained dune areas into 
established subclimax stands. It also is a long-lived tree. Western 
redeedar is also associated with spruce and hemlock and establishes 
by natural seeding from trees near the dune area. Both hemlock 
and cedar have commercial value. 
Oregon crabapple is native to the north Pacific coast, where it is 
common on riverbanks and around the shores of lakes. It is a long- 
lived tree that reaches a maximum height of 15 to 20 feet. On the 
dunes it serves two major purposes. It is used for planting around 
the shores of interdune lakes and for topographical correction. In 
the latter case it becomes wind formed and may produce a dense mat 
near the ground. These attributes are ideal for stabilizing gaps in the 
dunes caused by blowouts. Oregon crabapple makes a well-formed 
tree when planted in protected places. The fruit is eaten by upland 
game birds, and the tree is browsed by deer. Seedlings are easy to 
grow and the transplants establish readily. 
Douglas-fir occurs on some of the naturally stabilized dune areas 
of the north Pacific coast. It can be established from plantings with 
good nursery stock on the more mature and protected sites. It has 
no particular advantages over the other species in this use group, but 
it can be used on good sites where timber production is one of the 
objectives for the use of the area. Douglas-fir is damaged rather 
than “formed” by strong winds on exposed sites. 
Shrubs for Auxiliary Stabilization 
Shrubs for permanent stabilization of coastal dune areas sup- 
plement the trees. They are especially important when the areas are 
used primarily for recreation. Shrubs protect the soil surface by 
restricting traffic to prescribed areas, and many of them reduce the 
fire hazard. In addition, they provide food and cover for wildlife 
and produce edible fruit for human use. More than 150 accessions, 
representing 50 species, were tested on the dunes of the north Pacific 
coast. The successful ones were divided into three major groups. 
Understory shrubs 
Shrubs in this group must be shade tolerant, evergeen, long lived, 
and rather fire resistant. Two species were found to be well adapted, 
and both are native to the area. 
Evergreen huckleberry occurs naturally as an understory on sta- 
bilized dunes on the coast (fig. 14). It is easily established with 
nursery-grown stock and attains a height of 4 to 5 feet in about 5 
years. Well-drained sites are required for good establishment and 
optimum growth. This shrub produces good crops of edible berries 
that are used both for human consumption and as food for wildlife. 
Waxmyrtle can be used on sites that are intermittently wet or have 
a high water table. It is best adapted to the southern half of the 
north Pacific coast. It does not produce edible fruit. 
Ground-cover shrubs 
Shrub species in this group are decumbent, creeping, or low and 
dense. They are long lived and fire resistant. Many species were 
tested, and three are unusually well adapted to dune-control work. 
All of them are native. 
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