Abstract In a test of early genetic evaluation of the growth potential of 14 families of open-pollinated Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco), measures of growth and phenology of seedlings grown in a coldframe were correlated with height of saplings in evaluation plantations at 9, 12, and 15 years. Fifteen-year height was most strongly correlated with measures of seedling budset (r = -0.57), height (r = 0.54), and branchiness (r = -0.53). Seedling growth and phenology values generally were poorly correlated with seed weight; however, seedling-sapling correlations were related to seedling-seed weight correlations. Seedling-sapling correlations improved with sapling age from 9 to 15 years. For. Sci. 33(2):577-582.