Eastern Hemlock
(Tsuga canadensis)

French names: Pruche du Canada
Family: Pine Family (Pinaceae)
Distinctive features: Tree;Flat needles
Similar species:
  •   Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) - very similar. Has longer needles and they are attached to the branch differently. Also, Balsam Fir bark usually has numerous sap blisters.
  •   Yew (Taxus canadensis) - a sprawling shrub, and the needles are green underneath.
  •   Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) - A wildflower, non-woody plant; no relation; similar in name only. See the Ontario Wildflowers website.
  •   Bulb-bearing Water Hemlock (Cicuta bulbifera) - A wildflower, non-woody plant; no relation; similar in name only. See the Ontario Wildflowers website.
  •   Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) - A wildflower, non-woody plant; no relation; similar in name only. See the Ontario Wildflowers website.
Leaves: Coniferous;  Small flat needles.
Habitat: Forests
Edible: Needles make a nice tea.
Books: Trees in Canada: 120   
Native/Non-native: Native
Status: Very common
See Also:
  •   Great Americans: Hemlocks (Tsuga), from The Monday Garden, by Sue Sweeney

 Eastern Hemlock is a conifer, and therefore it has needles. Eastern Hemlock needles are connected to the branch with tiny stems. This is different from Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea). The needles have a thin white stripe underneath (not shown).

The needles make a nice tea. As with all conifers from which one can make tea, it is important to heat the water first, remove the water from the heat when it boils, and then and only then add the needles. Fresh, younger needles make better tea.

Here is a young Eastern Hemlock, showing its open growth form.

An eye-level view of Eastern Hemlock branches.

Eastern Hemlock trunk.

Close-up of Eastern Hemlock bark.

Eastern Hemlock seed cones.

Find Trees
& Shrubs: 

Common name    Latin name    French name    Families    Groups    Genus    Listed by Book    Search    ID
Habitat    Leaves   Flowers:  Colour/ Season/ Petals    Type    Native/Non-native    Edible   Poisonous    Wildflowers

Home   Search   ID   Humour   Naturalization   Philosophical   BOOKSTORE

Sitemap   About this site   Use of Material   Links   Booklist   Monday Garden articles   Email me   Guestbook

Wildflowers  Ferns  Grasses  Mosses   Insects  Wilderness Survival  Tracking   James Bay  Labrador   Earth Caretaker  Leatherwood Trail
Ontario Wildflowers

The material on this page is copyright © by the original author/artist/photographer
This website is created, maintained & copyright © by Walter Muma
Please respect this copyright and ask permission before using or saving any of the content
of this page for any purpose

-- These other websites may also interest you --

Ontario Wildflowers   Ontario Trees & Shrubs   Ontario Ferns   Ontario Grasses   Ontario Insects
Mumart   World of Mosses   Wild Ontario   Trans-Labrador Hwy   James Bay Road   Rupert River   Moped Trip
Wildwood Survival   Wildwood Tracking   Leatherwood Trail   Tracker Trail   Earth Caretaker   Wildwood Canada

Thank you for visiting!