Tsuga caroliniana
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SOO-guh kair-oh-lin-ee-AN-uh
- Description
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Carolina hemlock is a native, perennial, needled evergreen tree in the pine family (Pinaceae) that grows 30 to 70 feet tall and 20 to 25 feet wide, It is found along cliffs and ridges from the Blue Ridge mountains to eastern Tennessee.
It can grow in partial to full shade with moist, well-drained soil, thriving in the cool, shady areas. It is not drought tolerant and will need to be watered regularly, especially in dry conditions. It needs protection from wind and hot weather to prevent foliage scorching. Propagate by seed.
This tree was used for medicinal purposes as well as basketry and building material by Cherokee people.
It works well as a screen or hedge on a slope or in a recreational play or woodland area. Plant it also in a children’s, shade, native or winter garden.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Healthy trees in the right location have few problems and are easily maintained. However, it is susceptible to hemlock woolly adelgid and is becoming rare in western NC. Other insect problems include ambrosia beetle, bagworms, borers, leaf miner, sawfly and mites. Potential disease problems for plants in the genus Tusga include needle blight, canker, rusts and rots.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tsuga
- Species:
- caroliniana
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- This tree was used for medicinal purposes as well as basketry and building material by Cherokee people.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Wildlife Value:
- Seeds are a food source for birds.
- Play Value:
- Pieces Used in Games
- Screening
- Shade
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Pyramidal
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 1 to 1.5 in. cones with narrow scales. Longer than cones from T. canadensis. Young cones are green and mature to light brown with scales opening at right angles.
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Flowers:
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- White
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- .25 to .75 in. needles radiate around the stem, 2 white strips of stomata on the underside. The leaves are longer and more whorled than T. canadensis. Smell of tangerines when crushed
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- The bark is reddish-brown and becomes fissured between scaly ridges
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stout branches are horizontal and often pendulous. Shoots are red-brown to orange-brown and finely hairy, buds small and round.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
- Problems:
- Frequent Insect Problems
