Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Wikimedia: Alex O'Neal (www.flickr.com)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Genus:
- Tsuga
- Species:
- Tsuga heterophylla
- USDA Symbol:
- TSHE
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 7000 cm
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★★★☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acleris gloveranus, Apotomops wellingtoniana, Brown angle shades (Phlogophora periculosa), Comstock's sallow (Feralia comstocki), Douglas-fir tussock moth (Orgyia pseudotsugata), Eastern blackheaded budworm (Acleris variana), Epinotia tsugana, Eupithecia annulata, Eupithecia graefii, Eupithecia longipalpata, Eupithecia olivacea, Eupithecia palpata, Eupithecia placidata, Eupithecia unicolor, Eupithecia usurpata, Euplexia benesimilis, False hemlock looper (Nepytia canosaria), Gabriola dyari, gray spruce looper (Caripeta divisata), hibiscus Quaker (Orthosia hibisci), Hydriomena speciosata, Imitated Melanolophia (Melanolophia imitata), Jocose Sallow (Feralia jocosa), Linden looper (Erannis tiliaria), mottled gray carpet moth (Cladara limitaria), Mournful Thorn (Lambdina fiscellaria), Nameless Pinion (Lithophane innominata), Papestra cristifera, phantasm moth (Nepytia phantasmaria), Pine Hypagyrtis Moth (Hypagyrtis piniata), Porcelain Gray (Protoboarmia porcelaria), pulmonaria stenoporpia (Stenoporpia pulmonaria), Rusty Tussock Moth (Orgyia antiqua), Silver-spotted Tiger Moth (Lophocampa argentata), Spiramater lutra, sulphur moth (Hesperumia sulphuraria), Syngrapha celsa, Syngrapha rectangula, Entomologist's hairstreak (Incisalia eryphon), Menapia White (Neophasia menapia), Nelson's hairstreak (Mitoura nelsoni)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fire Notes:
- Thin bark makes it susceptible to fire; regenerates poorly after severe fire.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification for 30-60 days; sow in moist, well-drained seedbed.
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 0 to 84 days or a 48 hour running water rinse followed by a 45 day cold, moist stratification at 3C. Seeds are placed in fine mesh bags and buried in moist peat moss in ventilated containers.
Establishment: Seedlings are easily damaged by direct sun and must be shaded throughout production. Seedlings are fertilized with Conifer Starter 7-40-17 liquid NPK fertilizer for 1 month. If a seedling is held over for a second year, controlled-release fertilizer is again applied as a topdress in the spring.
Source: npn.rngr.net
Where to Buy
Nationwide Seller
- Sheffield's Seed (seeds)