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Western hemlock

Queen Victoria so highly regarded this tree for its timber that she requested it's name was changed to Tsuga albertiana in honour of her husband. This change was only temporary however and its original name is now used.

What other names does it have?

Generic name	Hemlock
Latin name	Tsuga heterophylla
Family name	Pine
Latin family name	Pinaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a conifer
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	No, it is evergreen

Species description:

Average height	15-45m

Leaf

Description	The needles are flat with two white bands/stripes on the underside. The needles are soft and have rounded ends- no sharp points. When crushed they smell a little like parsley
Shape	Needle
Size	6-22mm
Colour	Dark green
Leaf stalk	No stalk

Flower, seed, and fruit

Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Brown
Type of seed body	Cone
Seeds dispersed by	Wildlife

Bark and twig

Bark description	Dark brown in colour with rugged ridges

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Non-native - commonly planted
Where is its natural range?	Much of north west America from Alaska to the Rocky mountains and south to California
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Dislikes strong light, particularly dry areas and air pollution. Tolerates dense shade very well.
What is its British conservation status?	Occasional

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber	This tree is almost exclusively grown for timber and wood pulp in the UK. It is said to be one of the best trees for these purposes. Plantation of western hemlock are often very dark places as they cast such dense shade that little else can survive underneath their branches.

Tree shape

Leaves, twig

Tree bark

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees

©2012 The Woodland Trust