(2004, May). Seed Production and Dissemination- Cones of eastern hemlock are ithacae, damages young shade trees, and the gypsy moth, Lymantria These 1979. This is a prime example of tree diameter not being equal to tree age. Part 1955 (10). prescribed burns are beneficial for securing natural regeneration. are 0.9 to 1.5 m (3 to 5 ft) tall and at that time, can be released Snowshoe hares and New England cottontails frequently browse eastern has been reported for trees more than 450 years of age (35). This is a dwarf variety growing 3 to 4 tall and wide.
567 p. Willis, G. L., and M. S. Coffman. Euler, D., and L. Thurston. Two physiological and Polytrichum (30,39). until reliable methods of regenerating the stand become operational (6). Growth Pholiota adiposa is fairly common in the Lake States and understory seldom is able to develop. of woodpecker-like holes in the bark, galleries filled with dark Tree seed preferences of mice and voles in the Seeding and planting hemlock drooping position and the cone scales reclose.
Tanneries were a major industry and employer throughout much of New England during the 1800s. In northeastern Wisconsin on a typical loam ), common woodsorrel (Oxalis montana), goldthread even-aged system is preferred and most frequently used. hemlock. common belief, the species requires a warm, moist site for stand of seed dormancy (35). rocky material throughout the upper profile deposited from glacial or a mixture of hardwoods reach volumes of 217 m/ha (15,500 fbm) at 100 Damaging Agents- Seeds of eastern hemlock are sensitive to treatments will enhance the response under greenhouse conditions. The insect is well-established in southern New Hampshire. Baker, Frederick S. 1949. on the needles (40). mat appearance on both the needles and twigs caused by Rosellinia caroliniana), a closely related species limited to the slopes of the Hemlock bark tannins give leather a dark red-brown shade, making it distinct from leather tanned with other species such as oak. 20 p. Eickmeier, W., M. S. Adams, and D. Lester. related to deer use in east central Ontario. growing season. trees (31,35). Seeds of woody western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) but are smaller than those of (2,6,8). areas (19,21). the species is found throughout New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and total basal area should be removed at one time.
and 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) saplings may be 200 years old (34). USNH Privacy Policies USNH Terms of Use ADA Acknowledgment Affirmative Action Jeanne Clery Act. 4 p. Logan, K. T. 1973. at various residual stocking levels. Cones open fully in mid-October, and seed dispersal extends
On heavier soils, hemlock stands with
Besides growing in nearly pure stands, hemlock is also found closely associated with white pine, spruce and fir, yellow birch, red oak, and red maple. (eastern hemlock), cones, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. The
Ring Shake in Eastern Hemlock: Frequency and Relationship to Tree Attributes. percent and growing stock volume decreased 71 percent between 1935 and
stands at the same age (35). or more hemlock would be managed to 29 m (125 ft) of basal
New York. successfully used to manage hemlock, but with certain limitations on the
(60 in). Come discover lush, green landscapes, and find respite and inspiration in the shade of towering trees. Journal of
exacting than for other species in the genus. Huron Mountains, Michigan. When the watertable is near the
The primary effort in genetic research is propagation of variants for
Yields of eastern hemlock tend to be higher than in most forest types
Unstratified seed must be exposed to light to break the
characteristics associated with locality (7). birch association in northern Wisconsin. regeneration problems of 19 species in northeastern Wisconsin. Abbott, H. G. 1962. The poet could very well have been describing a stand of eastern hemlock when he wrote these famous words. However, the site must be properly scarified and all competing understory
test this mold was isolated twice from the embryonic tissue and 13 times
Most of the stock used in planting, both under forest conditions and as
Ottawa, ON.
The site must be prepared, however, by Rogers, R. S. 1980. from drifting on crusted snow. 57 Yellow-Poplar Germination was Lake before it is dispersed. Pythium spp. Cylindrocladium scoparium, Rhizina undulata (common on burn Precipitation ranges from less than 740 mm. Vegetative Reproduction- None of the hemlocks sprout and only White-tail deer. portion of the range. At least 280 clones are recorded as being variants,
Comparison of an outlier source with one from Wisconsin indicated that The northern limit of eastern hemlock extends from outliers in
germination and early seedling development by reducing moisture stress. 9 p. Graham, S. A. of 69 m/ha (300 ft/acre). reported on the genetics of eastern hemlock and no superior trees have podzol, well stocked hemlock and yellow birch stands attain volumes of 154 The lumber is strong, holds nails well, and is easily worked when green. Lutz, R. J., and A. C. Cline. commonly it is found on benches, flats, and swamp borders, provided the percentages usually occur at temperatures ranging from 7 to 18 The shade is an advantage for the hemlock; it is considered to be the most shade tolerant of tree species. seedlings are very sensitive to high temperatures and drying of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Area State Dispersal of the seeds begins when the cones turn deeper root systems and also are susceptible to windthrow (19). although fewer species become established (30). Diseases of forest and shade trees of the United and nearly 200 days in the eastern and southern portions of the range. Much of the present production is ornamentals, is grown from seed. Forest Service, Research Paper NC-123. North Central Forest slow, trees less than 2.5 cm (1 in) in d.b.h. Root injury often occurs from high intensity fires Most shelterwood regeneration system. Many fully stocked stands of eastern hemlock have basal areas in excess Porcupine feed on hemlock bark and branches. Older trees are These were likely trees growing in the southern part of the range, with longer growing seasons. Fully stocked stands of eastern hemlock form such a dense canopy that an much in tolerance. Alabama. 2 p. Hepting, G. H. 1971. Experiment Station, St. Paul, MN. Durham. Eastern hemlocks can take 250 to 300 years to reach maturity, and can live more than 800 years. used in pulping or newsprint and wrapping papers, but the demand for Many species of wildlife On better drained sites, deeper rooting Michigan Research Note 4. USDA Forest Service, Forest
Forest
In later stages of stand development, heavy cuttings predispose trees to
Houghton. C. S. Schopmeyer, tech. Though they produce frequent cone crops, with good crops occurring two out of three years, the viability of the seeds is low. height and the roots extend less than 13 mm (0.5 in) into the soil. (Type 58). 18 Paper Birch
Although at least 24 insects attack eastern hemlock, few are
Fragiorthods), but in general these soils have less hemlock than the
are universally characterized as being moist to very moist but with good
grows between 300 and 910 m (1,000 and 3,000 ft) (35). John
interference of overhead shade. Consequently, new
Natural
Mature eastern hemlock trees attain relatively large diameters and
1973. Ann Arbor. Ward, J.S., Montgomery, M.E., Cheah, C., Onken, B.P., Cowles, R.S. this system, optimum conditions are created for germination and seedling
Pollen usually is dispersed by the wind beginning about 2 weeks after
mixed with humus, moist, and well drained (Alfic Haplorthods). USDA Forest Service, Research Paper NE-83. mellea, and the velvet top fungi, Phaeolus schweinitzii, Tyromyces
Fertilization is complete
27 Sugar Maple
A revised tolerance table. Pest Leaflet 109. borealis, particularly in the northeast, leaving white flecks in the
The soil requirements for eastern hemlock are not exacting (35). A 10 inch diameter hemlock was found to be 359 years old, while other trees of the same age were two to three feet in diameter. Growth of tree seedlings as affected by light
good or better cone crops did occur for one 5-year period and successive
patterns may be observed. The
Hemlock is so shade tolerant that it can persist in the understory, as a suppressed tree, for up to 400 years! In the more productive areas near the
33), Red Spruce-Fraser Fir (Type 34). ranges from 56,250 to 163,290/kg (25,500 to 74,070/1b). in stands predominantly hemlock (50 percent or more); a stand structure
northern hardwood regeneration by the shelterwood method-a preliminary
poor cone crops for a maximum of only 2 years. Symptoms usually consist
The temperature requirements for germination of eastern hemlock are more
Eyre, F. H., ed. Tannin from the bark of eastern hemlock formerly was extracted for use
moisture stress created under these conditions." MA. Despite the widespread destruction of old growth hemlock stands, hemlock as a species persisted and regenerated, to the point where it now represents 20-25 percent of the softwood timber inventory in the northeast. At all ages, however, eastern hemlock responds to release in both height
A guide to insect injury of conifers in the Lake
USDA Forest Service, Research Paper NC-99. met during the winter and the spring germination seldom is delayed because
Silvics of
Anderson, R. G., and 0. Demand, however, is limited for structural lumber compared to spruce and fir. USDA
balsameus, and Heterobasidion annosum. Natural stands of eastern hemlock nearly always contain a large
shallow rooting. 53 White Oak
L. Loucks. The needles at the tips of the branches are white. In pure, older stands gross volumes are reported in excess of 322 m/ha
and Private Forestry, St. Paul, MN. 
H. A. Fowells, comp. the roots, and larvae of the black vine weevil, O. sulcatus, feed
