Scientific Name:
Tsuga mertensiana
Pronunciation:
SOO-guh mur-ten-zee-AY-nuh
Common Name:
mountain hemlock
Family Name:
Pinaceae
Plant Type:
Conifer
Key ID Features:
Twigs yellow-brown, densely pubescent; needles mostly spirally arranged, curved towards apex, linear, most 10-25mm long x 1-1.5mm wide, margins smooth, inconspicuous stomatal bands on upper and lower surface, lower surface somewhat rounded in cross-section; seed cones spruce-like, sessile, ovoid, 3-6cm long x 1.5-2.5cm wide, dark purple becoming to red-brown when mature; scales pubescent. Conifers.org
Habit:
Pendulous, Upright
Form:
Pyramidal - narrowly
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
10 - 15m
Mature Spread:
5 - 7m
Growth Rate:
Slow
Origin:
B.C. west of Cascades, U.S. - northwest
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Humus rich
Water Use:
Wetlands
Landscape Uses:
Container planting, Forestry, Reclamation, Screening, Shade tree, Specimen plant, Wetland - bogs, Wildlife food, Wind break
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Needle-like
Arrangement:
Spiraled
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Summer:
Bluish, Green
Colour in Fall:
Bluish, Green
Shapes:
Falcate, Linear
Apices:
Acute
Margins:
Additional Info:
2cm long, semi-circular; blunt tip; upper surface w. groove or ridge; slender petioe; equal length on same twig.
Inflorescence Type:
n/a (male cone)
Flower Morphology:
Monoecious plant
Colour (petals):
Male cone, Yellow, Brown
Flower Time at Peak:
Feb, Mar
Fruit Type:
Cone (winged seeds)
Fruit Colour:
Purple, Red, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Showy,
Bark Morphology:
Moderately fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey, Brown
Leaf Bud Type:
Ovoid
Organ Modifications:
Ectomycorrhizae
Propagation:
Seed
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Aphids or adelgids, Heart rot
Course(s):
- HORT 1193/1293
- HORT 2355
Location(s):
- (PDW) PonD West
- (PHA) PolyHouse and Area
- (TFL) Turf Field Lab
- (TFLN) Turf Field Lab North
- (WLG) WoodLand Garden