Timberpedia - Western Hemlock

Western Hemlock

Latin Name:	Irish Name:	Native to Ireland?
Tsuga heterophylla		No

About the Tree

Introduced 1851. Habitat: thrives in humid areas of the Pacific coast and northern Rocky Mountains.

Description: It is a pioneer on many sites, yet it is commonly the climax dominant. Although
western hemlock grows like a weed, its versatility and potential for management make it the
“Cinderella of the Northwest.”

Hemlocks are closely related to spruces ,A highly shade-tolerant species, this tree is often found
under the canopy of much larger trees, foliage of the Western and Eastern Hemlocks is very similar,
and Yew-like in appearance. It has two white lines beneath. The important differences that Eastern
has a line of reversed leaves along the top of the branch so that the white undersides of the leaves
are uppermost.

About the Wood

The wood from Western Hemlock has an even grain and resists scraping, which makes it easy to
machine. It is commonly used for doors, windows, parts of staircases, ladders, Roof decking,
laminating stock, mouldings, shipping crates, architectural trim, general construction, newsprint,
plywood, pilings, poles, railroad ties, pulpwood, etc.

Young tree

Branch with mature seed cones that have released their seeds

Western hemlock often grows on corase woody debris, such as nurse logs or cut stumps (pictured left)

About the TimberPedia

Know your wood! The Timberpedia is a broad resource that aims to catalogue all the major tree species in Ireland, containing information that we’ve gathered from over two decades maintaining our natural woodland and serving Ireland’s woodworking industry.

All written material is copyright © 2021 by the Lisnavagh Timber Project.