Carolina Hemlock

(Tsuga caroliniana)

Carolina Hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana)

Identifying Characters: Carolina Hemlock has all of the typical characters of the hemlocks. In addition the cones are 1 to 1.5 inches long and the needles to not taper towards their apices.

Similar Species: Carolina Hemlock is sympatric with Eastern Hemlock within its range. The cones of the Carolina Hemlock are longer (1 to 1.5 inches) than those of Eastern Hemlock (0.5 to 0.8 inches). The cone scales of Eastern Hemlock are broader than those of Carolina Hemlock. The needles of Eastern Hemlock taper toward the tip, but do not in Carolina Hemlock.

Measurements: Mature trees are typically 40 to 50 feet high, but sometimes reach 70 feet; diameter at breast height 1 to 2 feet.

Cones: Cones are 1 to1.5 inches long, ovoid, and as in all hemlocks located on the ends of small branches; cone scales relatively narrow relative to Eastern Hemlock.

Needles: Needles are 0.7 to 1.0 inches long and arranged in two rows; needles dark green, flattened, but do not taper at the tip.

Bark: Bark thick, red-brown, and deeply divided into broad, flat, connected ridges with closely appressed, plate-like scales.

Native Range: This rare and local species is found on the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian mountains from western Virginia southward to extreme northern Georgia. (Silvics of North America. 1990. Agriculture Handbook 654.)

Habitat: Carolina Hemlock lives along the rocky banks of streams at elevations between 2500 to 4000 feet.