The shorter trees and shrubs from the understory, and the forest floor has such plants as mosses and ferns. There are two classes of trees. Coniferous trees, also called conifers or evergreen, stay green all year long. They have needles rather than leaves. Common coniters in this region are Dpuglas fir, red cedar, and western hemlock.
Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall, and grow new ones in the spring.
Common deciuous trees here are alder, maple, and cottonwood. These concern preservationists because they are not native to this area, and they can invade the forest and outcompete native species in the forest. A good example of an species is holly. The forest also provides a habitat for many animal species. Besides birds and small mammals, there are also deer on the Sehome Hill.