Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
ConiferAbout Eastern Hemlock
Eastern Hemlock is an elegant, shade-tolerant conifer found throughout the Appalachian region and northeastern forests. It is valued for its graceful, drooping branches and fine-textured foliage. This species is currently threatened by the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid, which has caused widespread mortality.
Quick Facts
How to Identify Eastern Hemlock
- Short, flat needles with two white stripes underneath, attached by tiny stalks
- Small, oval cones about 3/4 inch long hanging from branch tips
- Scaly, reddish-brown to gray bark with deep furrows on old trees
- Graceful, nodding terminal leader
- Dense, pyramidal form with feathery, drooping branches
Care Guide
- Monitor for hemlock woolly adelgid (white, cottony masses at needle bases)
- Treat infested trees with systemic insecticides or horticultural oil
- Keep soil consistently moist; hemlocks are drought-sensitive
- Mulch generously to maintain cool, moist root conditions
- Prune in late winter; responds well to shearing for hedges
Known Issues (1)
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