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Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), also known as Canadian Hemlock, is a coniferous tree native to eastern North America. It ranges from northeastern Minnesota eastward through southern Quebec to Nova Scotia, and south in the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia. It grows well in shade and may live for over 400 years (exceptionally 800 years). At maturity, it reaches 20-35 meters tall (exceptionally to 51 m) and a dense, conical crown with a drooping terminal shoot. The leaves are spirally arranged, but twisted at the base to lie in two rows on each side of the twigs. Each leaf is needle-like, 8-15 mm long, 2 mm broad, dark green above and with two broad blue-white stomatal bands on the underside. The cones are ovoid, 15-22 mm long and 8-10 mm broad closed, opening globose to 20 mm broad. The bark is scaly and furrowed, gray-brown turning to red-brown as it matures. Eastern Hemlock grows in acidic, organic, and well-drained soils.
The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Adelges tsugae, a species of aphid accidentally introduced from east Asia to the United States in 1924, threatens the future of the Eastern Hemlock east of the Appalachian Mountains.
Eastern Hemlock is the state tree of Pennsylvania.
Over 300 cultivars have been selected for ornamental use, include 'Sargentii' (pictured below), a slow-growing clone with a broad crown and gently weeping habit, to 4 m tall and 6 m across.
References
External links
- Gymnosperm Database: Tsuga canadensis
- Photo of cones
- US Forest Service - Hemlock Woolly Adelgid website
- Flora of North America, Profile and map:
- The Monday Garden: Eastern Hemlock
- Tsuga canadensis images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu
Pinaceae | Trees of Eastern United States | Trees of Ontario | Trees of Quebec | Trees of New Brunswick | Trees of Nova Scotia
Østamerikansk Hemlock | Kanadische Hemlocktanne | Canadese hemlockspar | Kanadanhemlokki | Choina Kanadyjska
"Eastern Hemlock"