Western hemlock also is harder, stronger, straighter-grained, and resin-free. Tsuga canadensis, also known as eastern hemlock, eastern hemlock-spruce or Canadian hemlock, and in the French-speaking regions of Canada as pruche du Canada, is a coniferous tree native to eastern North America. While the firs and spruces point their rigid leaders skyward, the top of the hemlock droops in a most self-deprecating manner. 1. Tsuga heterophylla (Rafinesque) Sargent 1898. Eastern and Carolina Hemlocks. | Source. Insofar as I am aware, however, hemlock trees aren’t toxic — and they don’t grow in Greece. Western hemlock ranges from Alaska to California and as far east as Montana. 2. Either Eastern_hemlock or Tsuga_canadensis or Western_hemlock. Hillbilly NC summed up many of the differences very nicely. Hemlock Recently I was asked the difference between Western and Eastern Hemlock. It was given the genus name tsugan by Stephen L. Endlicher who was a botanist from Austria. Porcupine-eastern Hemlock interactions at - Minnesota DNR {hereafter, "hemlock" } reaches the western—most limit of its range in northern ... porcupines feed so intensively and extensively on hemlocks in the eastern portion of ..... prepertiens ef species … In the books one is given differences, but in practice it is as good as impossible to tell the Western and Oriental Hemlock species apart. The western hemlock lives a long life (trees over 1200 years old are known). It is much more common west of the Cascade mountains. There are up to ten species of the tree, the most common being the Eastern Hemlock and the Western Hemlock. Can Endangered Eastern and Carolina Hemlocks Be Saved? The Eastern Hemlock is called the "Redwood of the East." Common names. Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) is one of the most delicate and beautiful conifers of the Pacific Northwest.For all its beauty, the hemlock is a humble tree. As compared to Eastern hemlock, this evergreen tree has a narrower crown and droopy branches with light, feathery foliage. Double white band on the underside of Hemlock needles. What is the best way to tell the difference between heterophylla and canadensis when the tree is immature, like mine? Geographically, most of the firs grow in the western portion of North America, with only the balsam fir and the Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) native to eastern regions. more. Two species, with to 2 a 3 cm small cones. It raises its long, limber boughs and lets them drop again with a sigh, not sorrowful, but letting fall tranquility upon us. In the case of those two, larch wins hands down for strength and durability (similar to doug fir) where hemlock is heavy (wet) and pretty brittle when green and light and hard as a rock when dry. Many of us from New England know that Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is an evergreen with short, flat needles and it is a native of the Eastern U.S. and adjacent Canada. The wood of western hemlock weighs more (about 29 pounds per cubic foot, dry) than that of its eastern relative. Updated on February 18, 2019. Geographically, most of the firs grow in the western portion of North America, with only the balsam fir and the Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) native to eastern regions. The leaves (a.k.a., needles) of Abies balsamea (balsam fir) expand where they attached to the branchlet into a circular disk, those of Tsuga canadendsis (eastern hemlock) do not expand. Is this a Western Hemlock or an Eastern Hemlock? 3. Western Hemlock Tree. Western hemlock tree (Tsuga heterophylia) is a large tree that usually grows 30 to 50 meters in height. Douglas fir needles are arranged in a spiral around the twig (making it appear bushy) while hemlock needles are arranged mostly in a single plane (making the twig appear flatter). Little color variance between hemlock's heartwood and sapwood results in a nearly uniform buff color in both species. Western Hemlock Facts. My little hemlock seems to be growing very well. The leaves (a.k.a., needles) of Abies balsamea (balsam fir) expand where they attached to the branchlet into a circular disk, those of Tsuga canadendsis (eastern hemlock) do not expand.