Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière
Canada hemlock, Eastern hemlock, hemlock spruce
Canada hemlock is native to eastern North America. Hemlocks live up to 800 years. Many cultivated varieties have been developed. These trees are under attack by hemlock woolly adelgids (Adelges tsugae), aphidlike insects first seen in North America in 1924. Although the insects themselves are black, they are nearly invisible; the infestation is visible from their white nests, as shown in some of the photos here.
Plants: Trees are pyramidal, 60–70′ (18–21 m) high, with a maximum recorded height of 159′ (48 m). They favor moist, well drained soils. The bark is initially smooth, becoming flaky and scaly over time. Eventually it forms wide flat ridges.
Leaves: Individual needles are flat, about ½″ (1.3 cm) long, glossy green on top, silvery gray beneath. The needles feel soft and have blunt tips.
Flowers: Male flowers are small, round, and yellow. Female flowers are light green, appearing at branch tips. Both types of flowers are easy to miss.
Fruits: Cones are oval in shape, up to ¾ ⨉ ½″ (1.9 ⨉ 1.3 cm).
Habitats: Rocky ridges, ravines, and hillsides with relatively high levels of moisture, at sea level along coasts, or at elevations of 1969–5906′ (600–1800 m) inland.
Online References:
References:
Infested with Adelges tsugae, hemlock woolly adelgid. · 4/21/2021 · Center Pond Preserve, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3″ (12 × 8.4 cm) 
7/23/2023 · The Mountain Trails, The Mountain Preserve, Belgrade Lakes Village, Maine 
8/9/2012 · Big Tree Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire 
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (14 × 10 cm) 
10/7/2012 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
11/3/2011 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts 
This hemlock is infested with hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). You can see two of the tiny black insects in this close-up. · 7/6/2012 · Littleton, Massachusetts 
11/22/2011 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
6/21/2017 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 3″ (9.1 × 7.9 cm) 
10/3/2010 · Dingmans Falls, Dingmans Ferry, Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania 
9/24/2010 · Nissitissit River Wildlife Management Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm) 
8/20/2009 · Hayes Woods Nature Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm) 
9/18/2017 · Purgatory Falls, Mont Vernon, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
Woolly adelgid has infested this tree, the white patches at lower right. · 8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) 
4/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
8/20/2009 · Hayes Woods Nature Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) 
Happy springtime growth. · 6/5/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm) 
Infested with woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). · 5/7/2023 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine 
A fallen branch, with itsy-bitsy baby cones. · 5/15/2016 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby, Massachusetts 
Spring growth · 6/3/2018 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm) 
6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm) 
4/16/2016 · Jason’s Cutoff/Nichols Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
This hemlock is infested with hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). · 1/5/2026 · Littleton, Massachusetts 
This hemlock is infested with hemlock woolly adelgid (pronounced a-DEL-jid) (Adelges tsugae). · 5/14/2016 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 2½ × 2½″ (6.5 × 7.1 cm) 
7/31/2018 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (14 × 10 cm) 
7/31/2018 · Andres Art Institute, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (14 × 10 cm) 
6/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm) 
9/24/2010 · Nissitissit River Wildlife Management Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) 
This hemlock is infested with hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). · 1/5/2026 · Littleton, Massachusetts 
4/22/2016 · Wildflower Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 5 × 4½″ (13 × 12 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Coniferophyta | Conifers—cone-bearing trees (and a few shrubs) |
| Class | Pinopsida | Gymnosperms such as cedars, Douglas-firs, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauri, larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and yews |
| Order | Pinales | Cone-bearing plants: cedar, cypress, fir, juniper, larch, pine, redwood, spruce, yew, and others |
| Family | Pinaceae | Pine family: cedars, firs, hemlocks, larches, pines and spruces |
| Genus | Tsuga | From a Japanese name for their native hemlocks |
| Species | canadensis | “Of or referring to Canada” |
Tsuga canadensis description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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