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Tsuga canadensis (Linnaeus) Carrière. Common name: Eastern Hemlock, Canada Hemlock, Spruce Pine, Hemlock Spruce. Phenology: Mar-Apr; Sep-Nov. Habitat: In a wide variety of habitats in the mountains, most typically and abundantly in moist sites in ravines or coves along streams, but likely to be found in all but the driest habitats between 300 and 1500 m (even occurring in peaty bogs, where it has a sickly yellow color and short life expectancy); in the western Piedmont of NC limited to progressively rarer microhabitats (primarily north-facing river bluffs), reaching its eastward limit in NC at a disjunct stand at Hemlock Bluff State Natural Area, Wake County (but uncommon in the Piedmont of VA and even present, though rare, in the Coastal Plain of VA). Distribution: Widespread in ne. North America, south to w. and c. VA, w. and (rarely) c. NC, nw. SC, n. GA, n. AL, TN, KY, IN, WI, and MN.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: One of the largest trees commonly encountered nowadays in parts of our area, but probably not naturally larger than many other trees – because of its low timber value, it was often left by loggers. The hemlock woolly adelgid is severely affecting this species.

Synonymy : = C, Can, F, FNA2, G, K4, Mi, Mo1, NE, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Price (1989); Pinus canadensis L.; = n/a — Il

Links to other floras: = Tsuga canadensis - FNA2

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Midwest: FACU
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily : 4

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image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Tsuga caroliniana (left), Tsuga canadensis (right), Tallulah Gorge, Tallulah Gorge State Park, Rabun County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley
image of plant© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: This graceful, evergreen tree grows in the eastern United States and northward into Canada. In the south, the native range is largely restricted to the Appalachian Mountains. There are some notable exceptions, such as Hemlock Bluff, near Raleigh, NC. These isolated populations in the warmer Piedmont are thought to be relics of Ice-age plant distribution patterns, which reflect a much colder climate. Populations throughout the eastern United States are now being decimated by the introduced Wooly Adelgid. These trees provide valuable shelter for many birds. Pine Siskins and Chickadees will spend hours feeding on the seeds from the small cones.

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Height: 60 ft.

plant sale text: Eastern hemlock is a delicately-textured conifer that makes a fine specimen tree. It can also provide effective screening. This species is found growing in moist woodlands from the Southern Appalachians north to Canada. Tiny ½-inch cones are attractive on its evergreen branches during the fall and winter. Chickadees eat the seeds from the cones of this species. The Cherokee tribe used the outer bark to make a rosy-tan dye, and its inner bark for weaving baskets. The genus Tsuga supports up to 89 lepidoptera species.

bloom table text:

description: This graceful, evergreen tree grows in the eastern United States and northward into Canada. In the south, the native range is largely restricted to the Appalachian Mountains. There are some notable exceptions, such as Hemlock Bluff, near Raleigh, NC. These isolated populations in the warmer Piedmont are thought to be relics of Ice-age plant distribution patterns, which reflect a much colder climate. Populations throughout the eastern United States are now being decimated by the introduced Wooly Adelgid. These trees provide valuable shelter for many birds. Pine Siskins and Chickadees will spend hours feeding on the seeds from the small cones.

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native range: eastern North America