Conifer Trees Database

Description. Canadian hemlock is an evergreen coniferous species of tree which grows well in shade and is very long lived, with the oldest recorded specimen, found in Tionesta, Pennsylvania, being at least 554 years old. Trees generally reaches heights of about 100 feet (31 m) tall, with exceptional specimens recorded up to 173 feet (53 m). The diameter of the trunk at breast height is often 5 feet (1.5 m) wide, but again, outstanding trees have been recorded up to 6 feet (1.75 m).

• The trunk is usually straight and monopodial, but very rarely is forked.
  
• The crown is broadly conic.
  
• The brownish bark is scaly and deeply fissured, especially with age.
  
• Twigs are a yellow-brown in color with darker red-brown pulvini, and are densely pubescent.
  
• Buds are ovoid in shape and are very small, measuring only 0.05 to 0.1 inches (1.5 to 2.5 mm) in length. These are usually not resinous, but may be slightly so.
• The leaves are typically 0.6 to 0.8 inches (15 to 20 mm) in length, but may be as short as 0.2 inches (5 mm) or as long as 1 inch (25 mm). They are flattened and are typically distichous, or two-ranked. The bottom of the leaf is glaucous with two broad and clearly visible stomatal bands, while the top is a shiny green to yellow-green in color. The leaf margins are very slightly toothed, especially near the apex.
  
• Seed cones are ovoid in shape and typically measure 0.6 to 1 inch (1.5 to 2.5 cm) in length and 0.4 to 0.6 inches (1 to 1.5 cm) in width. The scales are ovate to cuneate in shape and measure 0.32 to 0.48 inch (8 to 12 mm) in length by 0.28 to 0.4 inch (7 to 10 mm) in width.

Distribution. This species is native to Canada - all provinces east from Ontario, except Newfoundland; USA - all states east from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama except Florida; where it can be found growing at elevations of 2,000 to 6,000 feet (600 - 1,800 m) above sea level. Its typical habitat is moist rocky ridges, ravines, and hillsides.

The invasion of the Asian hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), which has devastated large parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is moving steadily upwards along the Appalachians such that it can now be found in spots along the Maine coast, is having serious impact of the forest ecology of the northeast. With the hemlock's die off there are no low growing evergreens to provide year round forage and shelter for animal life. In warmer weather, hemlock shades streams moderating the water temperature for amphibians and game fish. A predator insect that feeds on HWA has been found in Japan but propagating it in the US has been difficult and expensive.

Dwarf Tsuga canadensis in the home landscape is easily treatable for HWA with a variety of pesticides and horticultural oil but this remedy is not practical in the forest. Many northeastern states prohibit the importation of hemlock to its nurseries; only native grown cultivars, which require annual inspection, are allowed for sale in these states effectively cutting off the supply of interesting varieties for collectors.