Eastern Hemlock

True to its name, the eastern hemlock is native to the northeastern and Appalachian regions of North America. This tree has multiple cultivars developed for a variety of ornamental and landscape uses, such as shrubs, dwarfs, form mutants, color mutants, and graceful trees. Their thick, bushy limbs provide ideal shelter for white-tailed deer and other wildlife species. It is the state tree of Pennsylvania.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Tsuga canadensis

HISTORY: The eastern hemlock has a long history of use by Native Americans; its cambium (a layer of plant tissue that grows new wood and bark) was used as a base for breads and soups, and its leaves were used to make a tea with an especially high Vitamin C content.

LEAVES: Eastern hemlocks have flat evergreen needles that are arranged in two rows with an extra row of flattened needles on top of the stems.

FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEEDS: Eastern hemlocks grow ovoid cones from branch tips that grow to about 1 inch and hang like ornaments.

FLOWERS: The flowers are inconspicuous and not ornamentally important.

BARK: The bark is reddish-brown, scaly, and fissured.

HEIGHT: Eastern hemlocks can attain heights of 40-70 feet.

USES: Eastern hemlocks are valued for both their bark, as it is an important source of tannin, an organic substance used in leather and ink production. Tannin makes the proteins in leather more resistant to bacteria and less water-soluble. The wood is sometimes used for framing, roofing, crates, and pulp, but eastern hemlocks are not considered important timber trees.

SOURCES:

https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_tsca.pdf

https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/eastern-hemlock/#cultivars

The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.