Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière

Eastern Hemlock; Canadian Hemlock

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Eastern Hemlock is a native evergreen tree in the Pine family (Pinaceae). It can be found in the northern third of Alabama. Eastern Hemlock grows in ravines, along streams, and on moist hillsides. It is a large tree reaching heights of 90 feet. The bark is gray to brownish-red, scaly and flaking when young, becoming ridged and furrowed with age. The needle leaves are linear, shiny green in color, appearing 2-ranked, glabrous, minutely toothed towards the apex, with two conspicuous white stomatal bands on the lower surface. Seed are produced in cones. The pollen cones are globose and solitary. Seed cones are pendent, ovoid, and mature in 1 year. The seed are winged. Eastern Hemlock is a popular ornamental, and numerous cultivars have been developed. It can be grown as a large specimen tree or trimmed into hedges. It prefers a moist but well-draining acidic soil in full sun to partial shade. It doesn't tolerate drought well, especially when young. The introduced Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is a major pest and can kill even mature trees.—A. Diamond.

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Native FACU (NWPL) G5 (Global Rank)

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