Taxonomy

Division:

Coniferophyta | - Conifers

Family:

Pinaceae

Genus:

Tsuga

Species:

Tsuga caroliniana

USDA Symbol:

TSCA2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Tree

Height:

2100 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

apr,may

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Notes:

Thin bark makes Carolina hemlock highly susceptible to fire damage; not fire-adapted.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers cool, moist mountain environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–120 days

Germination Time:

14–42 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for optimal germination. Cool temperatures (60-65°F) promote best results.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI